The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Campbell High grad first in her all-girls BSA troop to become an Eagle Scout
Born into an active family, Cecelia Pumpelly joined the scouting world as a Daisy, the initial level of Girl Scouting, which became a “constant” in her life as she moved up through the six levels to Ambassador. As her brothers participated in Cub Scouts, she watched and tagged along whenever possible. At age 16, Pumpelly then joined an all-girls Boy Scouts of America troop. The environment became woven into her life.
On Aug. 8, Pumpelly was recognized as one of metro Atlanta’s first female Eagle Scouts. She is the first Eagle Scout in her Troop 2019, led by Scoutmaster Kes Stadler
and chartered to the Episco- pal Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in east Cobb.
Pumpelly excelled at academics graduating from Campbell High School (Smyrna) in the International Baccalaureate diploma program and was also a National Merit Scholarship winner.
It was the nature element and learning some tactile things that she sought in joining the BSA, but she soon discovered the journey to get to Eagle was a moun- tain, she said.
Being the oldest in the troop, Pumpelly discovered that mentoring those younger gave meaning. “It was probably the most gratifying experience of my high school years being able to work one on one, make decisions, teach skills and watch these young girls grow into the capable Scouts and leaders they are today,” said the now-freshman at the University of Georgia studying economics.
“During her time at T2019, she was elected to the highest position in the troop that can be held by a youth, the Senior Patrol Leader,” said
Stadler in an email to the AJC. “She also completed the National Youth Leader- ship Training and was elected by her scouting peers into the Order of the Arrow, a service organization within the BSA.”
When asked about a merit badge that resonates with the Eagle Scout, the first aid badge ranks at the top.
“The amount of times I’ve had to use those skills in real life is astounding, and it’s surprising to see that a lot of people don’t have the basic level of first aid,” said Pumpelly. “For me personally, learning FAST (facial droop- ing, arm weakness, speech difficulties and time) stroke acronym, I was able to identify what was happening with a family member and knew immediate assistance was needed. Without having been through that, … you never know what is going to hap- pen, so just having one or two of those acronyms was a little bit of knowledge in place to save someone’s life.”
The charge of Scouting has been invaluable, and now has a skill set that she believes “will last my entire life,” said the Eagle Scout. “I know that every woman who has been through this program has a different journey, and they get different things out of it, but they are better off than they were before.”