Three sisters just made history in St. Louis. Rebecca, Hannah, and Sarah Gralike are their names. They all earned the top Boy Scout award. This award is called the Eagle Scout rank. This is a very big deal. The sisters are redefining what an Eagle Scout looks like. This news comes from KSDK. It shows that girls can achieve great things in scouting.
Gralike Sisters Are Now Eagle Scouts
The Gralike sisters are from St. Louis. They achieved something amazing together. All three earned the prestigious Eagle Scout rank. This is a first for a set of sisters in St. Louis. Their special Eagle Court of Honor happened on May 19, 2024. It was a proud day for their family.
Rebecca is the oldest sister. She is 18 years old. Rebecca earned her Eagle Scout rank in 2023. Hannah and Sarah are twins. They are both 16 years old. Both Hannah and Sarah earned their Eagle Scout ranks in 2024.
The sisters belong to Troop 799G. This troop is also in St. Louis. Their mom, Jenny Gralike, leads their troop. She is the Scoutmaster. Their dad, Kevin Gralike, also helps with scouting. The whole family loves scouting very much.
What does it take to be an Eagle Scout? It is a challenging journey.
- Scouts must earn 21 merit badges.
- They must plan and lead a big service project.
- Scouts need to show strong leadership skills.
- They must serve their community.
These requirements show dedication. They teach important life skills.
The Gralike sisters started scouting young. Rebecca began in kindergarten. She was a Daisy Girl Scout. Hannah and Sarah started in first grade. They were Brownie Girl Scouts. The girls moved to Boy Scouts of America (BSA). They wanted to earn the Eagle Scout rank. This rank was not open to girls in Girl Scouts.
Their Special Community Projects
Each sister had to complete a big service project. These projects help the community. They are a very important part of becoming an Eagle Scout. Let’s look at what each sister did:
| Sister | Age | Eagle Project | Community Helped |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rebecca | 18 | Built new garden boxes. | Our Lady of Sorrows church garden |
| Hannah | 16 | Made new picnic tables. | Christ Memorial Lutheran Church |
| Sarah | 16 | Created a new reading garden. | Concordia Seminary |
Rebecca built several garden boxes. She put them at a community garden. This garden is at Our Lady of Sorrows church. Fresh food grows in these boxes. This food helps many local families. Her project helps people eat healthy. It also brings the community together.
Hannah worked on picnic tables. She built many brand-new ones. She also cleaned old tables. Then she painted them. These tables are for Christ Memorial Lutheran Church. People can now enjoy meals outside. This makes the church area nicer for everyone.
Sarah designed a reading garden. This garden is at Concordia Seminary. She added comfortable benches. She also put in a special outdoor bookshelf. This peaceful spot helps students relax. They can read and study there. It gives them a quiet place to think.
These projects show great leadership. They also show how much the sisters care. Their work makes St. Louis a better place. You can see how much effort they put in. They truly earned their ranks.
Girls in Scouts BSA History
It might seem new for girls to be Eagle Scouts. That is because it is fairly new. The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) changed its rules. This allowed girls to join some programs.
Here are key dates for girls in BSA:
- In 2017, girls could join Cub Scouts. This was a big change.
- In 2019, girls could join the Scouts BSA program. This opened the door for Eagle Scout.
- The Scouts BSA program is where you earn the Eagle rank.
This move was very important. It gave girls the same chances as boys. They can now aim for the highest rank. Learn more about Scouts BSA for girls.
The Gralike sisters joined a new troop. Troop 799G started with 15 to 20 girls. Their mom helped start it. Many girls wanted this chance. They wanted to earn the Eagle Scout award too.
Over 6,000 girls nationwide have become Eagle Scouts. This has happened since 2017. The Gralike sisters are part of this growing number. They are inspiring other girls. They show what is possible.
Being an Eagle Scout means a lot. It teaches you how to lead. It also teaches you to serve others. You learn to be brave and strong. These skills help you your whole life. Explore the history of the Eagle Scout rank on Wikipedia.
The Gralike family has a history in scouting. Their dad was also a Scout. Their grandfathers were involved too. This tradition makes the sisters’ achievement even more special. They carry on a family legacy.
The sisters have done many exciting things. They have been camping. They have gone rock climbing. They have helped their community a lot. They want other girls to join scouting. They say it is a great experience. It helps you grow. The Gralike sisters prove that girls can do anything they set their minds to.
