Buchanan, Mich. – On February 1^st, Emily Long made history when she became one of the nation’s first female Eagle Scouts.

Locally, she made history as the first female Eagle Scout from the LaSalle Council, which represents 8 counties of Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan.

Emily is among hundreds of young women who will make up the Inaugural Class of female Eagle Scouts.

Eagle Scout is the program’s highest rank, which only about 6% of Scouts achieve on average.

To become an Eagle Scout, Emily took on leadership roles within her troop and her community as she accumulated a minimum of 21 merit badges through works of first aid, civics, business and the environment.

For her Eagle Scout project, Emily initiated a project that is fit to help conserve natural water and prevent erosion growth in Buchanan’s local creeks.