Three Scouts from Queen Creek Troops 3738 and 738 earn Eagle Scout rank, celebrating their achievements, leadership, and community service with memorable projects and experiences.
At a Court of Honor on Saturday, March 29th, 2025, in Queen Creek, Arizona, three new Eagle Scouts were recognized for their amazing achievement. In attendance there were over 150 family members, prior Eagle Scouts recipients, a Gold Award recipient, Venturing Summit recipient, fellow youth scouts and scout leaders along with their families.
A very special visit from Liberty Wildlife representative Wendi Bozzi and Bald Eagle Cochise started the evening off with the significance of a Bald Eagle and a Scout earning Eagle lies in their shared symbolic representation of leadership, strength, and national pride. Leaders in attendance were people who supported these youth along their trail to Eagle Scout. Leaders included Cubmasters, Den Leaders, Scoutmasters, Assistant Scoutmasters, Camp leaders, Merit Badge Counselors, Grand Canyon Council leaders, Town of Queen Creek council members, and even Santa Claus who without their involvement, these scouts would not have made it this far. It takes a lot of dedicated adult leadership (a village) to guide and assist these dedicated youth along their trail to Eagle Scouts.
At this Court of Honor, we recognized the first two female Scouts in Queen Creek Troop 3738 to earn this rank since the Troop was formed in 2019 and Stephen T. with the brother Troop 738. Tabbytha T. was the first founding member of Troop 3738 and long-serving Senior Patrol leader for 6 years. Arianne P., Tabbytha’s best friend and scout mate who took the Senior Patrol Leader role for the last year when Tabbytha enthusiastically stepped down to Assistant Senior Patrol leader. Stephen started scouting with Pack 738 as a Tiger Scout in 2015 earning all his ranks up to Arrow of Light and crossed over into the Boy Scouts of America Troop 738 in April of 2020. Stephen served as the Quartermaster for Troop 738 for multiple years and Den Chief for Pack 738.
Memories shared by Tabbytha T. about her included teaching scout skills such as knot tying and first aid over and over. Being a provisional Scout her first year of Scouting in 2019 at Camp Fiesta Island where she got to join up with two wonderful California girls Troops. Learning to board sail, stand up paddle board, visit the USS Midway. She enjoyed ziplining at Camp Bighorn with gnomes that appear around camp. So many memories that will last a lifetime. The highlight of her Scouting was attending the World Scout Jamboree in South Korea, where she made friends from countries like England, South Korea, Switzerland, and Hong Kong. Inspiration for attending a scouting event all the way around the world came from a merit badge counselor. The late Burdell Hall signed off on her Citizenship in the World merit badge while telling her his many adventures abroad at numerous World Scout Jamborees.
Most of all the amazing Eagle project that she completed for Tonto National Forest. She removed and replaced 1/3 mile of old and damaged barbed wire fencing, entrance gates, and fence posts around a weather station and emergency water bladders for Helicopter firefighting in Payson, AZ. This conservation project helps to protect much-needed emergency equipment to ensure it is available if needed. Tabbytha now volunteers her time as a leader in Cub Scout pack 738 teaching a new generation of girls in the Scouting program.
Memories from Arianne’s Eagle trail included her friends relentless nagging to get her to join Troop 3738 for an entire year. Her very first campout where she learned how to be her dad’s navigator to the campout and that flip flops and steel toe boots are no good for camping and hiking. She enjoyed multiple summer camps where she learned to stand up paddle board, went kayaking with her best friend who touched the glowing algae with a nice sting, earning her lifesaving, oceanography, rowing and paddleboarding merit badges at Camp Fiesta Island. Enjoying a fun day at the obstacle course on the water, all while learning important lessons about making sure your Troop doesn’t forget to pack the dry food tote. This lesson led to some interesting lunch on the lake when they had only shredded cheese and ranch to share amongst themselves. She enjoyed kayaking with overnight campout at Blue Ridge Reservoir. Hiking to the STEM lab at Camp Cherry Valley later deemed the death hike afterwards. Her favorite throughout scouting has been real life first aid, CPR, and wilderness survival training. All things her Scoutmaster says, “Have inspired her to become a Paramedic once she graduates from High School in May of 2025.”
Arianne’s Eagle Project supported a local pet rescue just down the street from her home. She coordinated with multiple Packs and Troops to collect pet supplies. She also went door to door along with collecting donations from local pet stores. She was able to collect 50 lbs. of cat litter, 100 lbs. of cat food, 99 cans of wet cat food, 73 lbs. of dry dog food, 16 cans of dog food, and additional supplies like cages. Arianne’s project helps to sustain the Back the Blue pet rescue foster families with much-needed supplies for the animals they care for and place up for adoption. She also learned the value of leadership, planning, and execution along with the complication of procrastination.
Stephen T. also earned his Eagle Scout. He started scouting with Pack 738 as a Tiger Scout in 2015 earning all his ranks up to Arrow of Light. He then crossed over into the Boy Scouts of America Troop 738 in April of 2020. He enjoyed attending his first summer camp at R-C Scout Ranch in Payson in 2017 with his dad. Excitedly returning as staff with his parents in 2018, 2019, and 2021. Stephen earned all his ranks up to Life by March of 2023 along with becoming a member of the Order of the Arrow. He has earned 31 merit badges so far and completed his Eagle Board of Review on December 10th, 2024. Stephen and his older sister Tabbytha were announced Eagle Scouts together at the same time after completing their Board of Review on the same night. Stephen also recalls the fun he had at summer camp earning merit badges his favorites being first aid, metal working, and horsemanship. In the summer of 2023, Stephen attended the 25th World Scout Jamboree in South Korea along with his sister. He enjoyed meeting new friends from countries like England, Switzerland, Netherlands, and South Korea. Talking about their scouting experiences, food, culture and trading items like patches, neckerchiefs, and even uniforms.
This energy for scouting continued as he completed his Eagle Project. Led by his faith in the Catholic Church he instantly knew that he wanted his Eagle Scout Project to benefit St. George Catholic Church in Apache Junction. Working with Monsignor Pinti and Dennis in maintenance he led a group of scouts and adults to repaint the lines of the Southern and Western parking lots. A total of 165 hours of labor between 23 volunteers and two weekends. Stephen continues participating in Troop 738 and Crew 2222, he also helps lead the Wolf den in Pack 738 as he enjoys teaching the younger scouts’ new things.
Eagle Scout is the highest rank that can be earned in BSA now Scouting America is not just about completing requirements, but also about developing character, leadership skills, and a sense of responsibility. All three of these youths, Tabbytha, Arianne, and Stephen achieved Eagle Scout which only about 4 percent of the youth who join this program achieve. An achievement that is recognized for the remainder of their lives. This achievement and the skills learned will give them an advantage in college entrance and future job opportunities.
Special thanks to Jamie Tooley for contributing this story and celebrating the achievements of these remarkable Scouts.
