Nearly 1,000 girls become the first female Eagle Scouts

Becoming an Eagle Scout is a rare honor. But they don’t just give it away – a scout has to earn it. Two years later girls were first admitted to the Boy Scouts, nearly 1,000 of them rose to the highest rank of Eagle Scout.

CBS News spoke to some of the first young women to call themselves Eagle Scouts.

“I don’t think any of us really thought this day would come,” said Kendall Jackson. “For me to be part of that first class and to say I did it, I’m really proud of myself.”

Only 6% of the Scouts ever make it to the top. It takes at least 21 merit badges, a major service project and commitment to leadership. Some girls wanted to prove that they were just as capable of doing whatever boys could achieve.

‘As a girl, I was often called bossy when I was in a leadership position, which is horrible to tell every young girl who comes up and tries to help a group. Scouting has taught me how to be a great leader, ”said Isabella Tunney.

Scouting is part of their history for many of these young women.

“My brother’s eagle, my grandfather and his brother’s eagle, my great-grandfather, if he hadn’t been called to WWII, he would have gotten his eagle,” said Gabby Mayrend.

On Sunday, the Scouts hosted an online ceremony to welcome the new group of female role models.

“Eagle Scout is so much more than a medal or an award. It is an expectation and a lifestyle. It means that you are a role model for your community every day of your life. Once an Eagle, always an Eagle,” said Lyndsey Nedrow, who earned the rank with her sister, Lauren.

“Everyone who is with Scouts has a little bit of ‘I want to change the world’ in them,” said Lauren Nedrow.