EVANS CITY — Scout’s honor. Seneca Valley Senior High School freshman Emma Pichieri is taking her family’s Scouting tradition to new heights.

Membership in the Boy Scouts has been a staple in her family. Her father, Tom Pichieri, achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, and so did her uncle, Al Pichieri. Her older brother, Thomas Pichieri, a senior at Seneca Valley, earned Eagle Scout rank when he was 16.

Emma conquered her brother’s record when she became an Eagle Scout at age 15 last summer.

“I got mine a year before my brother, and I’m the first girl in the family to make Eagle Scout,” Emma said. “Those things mean a lot to me.”

Also a longtime Girl Scout, Emma joined Boy Scout Troop 6405, based out of the Cranberry Elks Club, in November 2020. She achieved the rank of Eagle Scout four years later.

Eagle Scout is the highest rank available in the Scouting America organization. It requires accumulation of 21 merit badges — including a community project organized and led by the scout — and only 6% of all scouts ever attain that level.

“Emma got there fairly quickly,” her father, the scoutmaster, said. “It’s uncommon for a girl to make Eagle Scout, but she’s the third one in our troop to do it.”

While Scouting America allows girls to participate in Boy Scouts, they do so in an all-female group. Emma is one of eight girls comprising her troop. Bridget Scott and Emerson Cushing are the other two in her troop to make Eagle Scout.

“Emma loves the outdoors,” her father said. “When she saw some of the activities her brother’s troop was doing, things like backpacking, canoeing, kayaking … she wanted to become a part of that.”

Emma’s community project was rebuilding worn-out fire pits at Camp Kon-O-Kwee, located outside of Zelienople. The facility has cabins used by special needs children and adults.

Emma led a group of eight volunteers, which gathered the necessary materials and tools to handle the task, and completed the project in about six hours.

“Another girl in our troop did her community project at that camp, so I asked them if they needed anything else done,” Emma said. “That’s how I came up with the idea.

“We replaced all the bricks, got the gravel we needed. Members of my scout team, family and friends helped me out. The fire pits are important to the campers there, and it felt good to do this for them.”

Now that Emma is an Eagle Scout, she is turning her attention toward achieving the Gold Award, the highest honor for a Girl Scout. That will involve another community project, though she is unsure what that will be just yet.

“I admire my sister for what she’s doing,” Thomas said. “She’s involved in so many things and time was of the essence for her to make Eagle Scout now, so she can concentrate on the Gold Award.

“To do this as a freshman is very impressive.”

Emma also is a senior patrol leader. Besides scouting, she plays the viola in her high school orchestra, is a percussionist in the marching band, is a member of the Latin Club, teaches at and attends a Taekwondo school, and is training to become a lifeguard.

She credits her experiences in Scouting America for her blossoming as an individual.

“Scouting has done wonders for my social skills,” Emma said. “I remember the mock interview I went through early in Scouting, where the interviewers try getting you to come out of your shell. I was almost crying, I felt so uncomfortable.

“Now talking to people, stepping up and being a leader is like second-nature to me.”

Her father said Scouting is a tradition in the family for a reason.

“It’s all about community involvement, leadership, socialization … I wanted my children to learn those traits and how to use them,” her father said. “Scouting does that.”

His son agreed. Thomas’ community project for his Eagle Scout was leading a team of volunteers to refurbish some of the trails at Moraine State Park.

“You feel good about yourself, because you feel like you’re making a difference,” Thomas said. “The friends I’ve made in Scouting will be friends for life.

“Our family was at a social function recently and my father was talking with his fellow Scouts from a long time ago. They were sharing stories. That type of relationship is what Scouting does for you.”

Her uncle, who now lives in New Jersey, recently returned to Boy Scouts as a Scouting America director. He saw what Scouting has done for other family members, especially Emma.

“She’s great,” he said. “Her dedication and work ethic are off the charts. Emma puts so much effort into everything she does. She’s become a strong leader and will continue to do great things in the community.”

He added that Scouting helps develop an individual in more ways than one.

“Scouting develops character and physical fitness,” he said. “Emma is a testament to that. She’s done a great job and is a determined young lady.

“Becoming an Eagle Scout is a family thing with us because it helps shape our character.”

The Boy Scouts’ inception was in 1910. There have been more than 130 million male and female Scouts since, along with thousands of adult volunteers.

Emma likely will be one of the latter someday.

“I think I’ll always be a part of this,” she said.