Nancy and Daren Phye of Dittmer can now boast about having two Eagle Scouts in the family, including their daughter, Amalia, who is the first Jefferson County female to achieve the rank.
Amalia, 15, and her brother, Jameison, 17, earned the rank of Eagle Scout in January.
Amalia is a member of Troop 894 based at St. Martin’s United Church of Christ in Dittmer, and Jameison is a member of Troop 322 based at The River Church in Eureka. Both attend Northwest High School, where Amalia is a freshman and Jameison a senior.
“We are proud of both of them,” their mom said. “They’re the first Scouts from our family. I have an older daughter, Diona Huffman. She was not in Scouts.”
Both completed their Eagle Scout projects, a requirement to attain the rank, at High Ridge Elementary School in the Northwest R-1 School District because their nephew, Kingston Huffman, attends the school.
Amalia oversaw the construction of six posts for signs that direct parents dropping off and picking up students at the school. Jameison’s project involved building several picnic tables for the school to use at lunch or for outdoor classes.
Both projects were completed in fall 2022.
High Ridge Elementary Principal Heidi Mackey said both of the projects are appreciated.
“They asked for our needs,” Mackey said. “They’re both very organized and, absolutely, their projects helped.”
Amalia
Amalia is the first female to rise to the rank of Eagle Scout in the Greater St. Louis Area Council Boy Scouts of America’s River Trails District, which covers Jefferson County, said Bobby Kaye, spokesman for the River Trails District.
He said Amalia is among approximately 2,000 females across the U.S. to achieve the rank since 2019, when females were first allowed to join the Boy Scouts, which now has all-male and all-female troops.
“Regardless of if someone is in an all-male or all-female troop, the requirements to earn Eagle rank are the same, and we hold everyone to the same standard,” Kaye said.
Amalia said she joined Troop 894, which is part of the River Trails District, in 2019 upon learning that the Boy Scouts had begun accepting females.
“I liked the things my brother was doing in the Boy Scouts of America as opposed to what the Girl Scouts had to offer,” she said. “I liked the high-adventure bases, like camping. I like to earn merit badges in Boy Scouts.
“My favorite merit badge was, probably, horsemanship. I rode horses before, but earning the badge taught me a lot more about it. I went to Beaumont Scout Ranch in High Ridge. You have to be able to groom the horse, learn how to saddle it and ride the horse to earn the badge. It was fun.”
Amalia said she has earned a total of 42 merit badges.
“With the communications merit badge, it taught me how to communicate and give presentations without feeling shy,” she said.
Amalia said she is interested in a career in the medical field and enjoyed working on her medical merit badge.
“Basically, you learn how to take blood pressure and heart rates,” she said.
Amalia said Eagle Scout projects are pretty involved, and she worked on hers for about five months, finishing it Nov. 10, 2022.
“Starting from the beginning, I had to make a proposal to the principal,” Amalia said. “I planned it, got the materials and worked on it with other people.”
Shawna Zeilman, a Troop 894 committee chairperson, said Amalia’s achievement has inspired other members of the all-female troop to pursue the rank of Eagle Scout.
“Amalia put in the time and effort to earn her Eagle, and the troop is proud of her,” Zeilman said. “She’s an inspiration to the other Scouts. She exemplifies the Eagle Scout award. She’s a very good leader. She’s the first to volunteer for community projects. She’s very cheerful.”
Amalia said she is happy others in her troop are following her lead and working toward the Eagle Scout rank.
“I feel proud to set this example,” she said.
Amalia said becoming an Eagle Scout has been a long-sought goal.
“It makes me feel proud,” Amalia said. “I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot.”
Amalia said she is looking forward to another challenge this summer – going to the Philmont Scout Ranch.
“It’s a mountain in New Mexico where you hike,” she said. “Our whole troop is going.”
Jameison
Amalia’s brother, Jameison, said Mackey also helped him decide on an Eagle Scout project, suggesting he make four picnic tables that High Ridge Elementary School students and staff and community members may use.
“The planning portion took about two months,” he said. “The actual building was, maybe, three or four days.”
He started in Boy Scouts when he was in the first grade. He has been a member of Troop 322 since 2016.
He said he was thrilled to attain the Eagle Scout rank.
“Yes, I’m proud,” he said.
He said he enjoys the outdoor activities the Boy Scouts offers.
“I like that I can spend time in the outdoors,” he said. “I’d probably say fly fishing has been my favorite merit badge.”
Troop 322 is part of the New Horizons District of the Greater St. Louis Area Council Boy Scouts of America, which covers the areas served by most of the Rockwood School District, as well as the Brentwood, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Parkway and Valley Park school districts.