Thornton teen becomes New Hampshire's 1st female Eagle Scout
Valerie Ann Johnston says many don't understand benefits of program
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Updated: 6:52 AM EST Mar 2, 2021
Andy Hershberger
Valerie Ann Johnston says many don't understand benefits of program
Share
Updated: 6:52 AM EST Mar 2, 2021
Andy Hershberger
News Reporter
A young woman from Thornton has just become New Hampshire's first female Eagle Scout.Valerie Ann Johnston broke boundaries to earn the rank."It's kind of overwhelming," she said. "It was kind of surreal at first, but I'm so honored and humbled that I got to complete this."Johnston said that when she was young, she used to tag along with her brother and father when they went on scouting trips. She participated in co-ed scouting programs, but when the Boy Scouts were opened to girls in 2019, Johnston decided to shoot for the highest mark.She said it wasn't always easy."In high school, there were people who, when I first joined, they're like, 'Why are you in Boy Scouts? Why would you do that?'" she said. "So they just didn't understand all of the benefits of this program, and I just don't think people realize everything you can get out of it."For Johnston's final project, she raised money and collected food for the Humane Society. She's now a freshman at St. Michael's College in Vermont and remains one of the only female Eagle Scouts in the country."It's so supportive, this group of girls who have come up together and earned everything, and because we all know we earned it and did our best, it's quite amazing to be part of that," Johnston said.Johnston said she hopes to graduate college in three-and-a-half years and then join the military.