BOSTON — Mira Plante, of Middleton, was the keynote speaker earlier this month when Scouting Boston honored business leaders Pamela Everhart and Joe Campanelli with the 44th presentation of the Ralph Lowell Distinguished Citizen Award.
The award was presented by the Scout’s Spirit of America Council at the Boston Harbor Hotel with approximately 300 guests in attendance. Plante was lauded as an inspiration and role model, as one of the first young women to earn the rank of Eagle Scout in Massachusetts. A 2020 honors graduate of Masconomet Regional High School, she’s now a graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a masters degree in cybersecurity. She is also a Scholarship for Service Recipient.
An announcement noted that her journey started as a member of a family that immigrated to the U.S. to becoming an Eagle Scout to her recent graduation from WPI with a master’s degree in cybersecurity, propelled by her involvement in the Scouting Boston STEM-focused programs.
This year’s gala marked the fifth anniversary of the historic decision to welcome girls of all ages into the nation’s most iconic youth development program. The milestone underscores the dedication of the Spirit of Adventure Council — which supports more than 7,300 Scouts in Massachusetts — to providing career exploration opportunities for all youth across the region, irrespective of gender or background.
“The urgent need is a clarion call for our community, nation, and world to step up and do a better job in helping young people learn, grow and realize their full promise,” said Scouting Boston CEO and Scout Executive John Judge. “With challenges like tech overload, loneliness, nature deficit, and in-activity — we must step up to meet the critical needs of our youth. The programs and values of Scouting are sorely needed in today’s world.”