A 17-year-old Sri Lankan American student, Sadali Costa, has made history by becoming the first Sri Lankan American female to earn the prestigious Eagle Scout rank, the highest honour awarded by Scouts America.
The achievement marks a significant milestone for the Sri Lankan community in the United States, as Costa joins a select group of young people who have attained this distinguished recognition.
One local Scout made history in late 2025 when she joined a group of over 2.5 million youth who have earned the Eagle Scout rank, the organization’s highest honor.
Sadali Costa, a 17-year-old incoming senior at Stow-Munroe Falls High School, is the first Sri Lankan American girl to receive the rank, as far as Scouting America can tell, said Patrick Scherer, CEO of Stow's Great Trail Council.
She was among 169 Eagle Scout achievers from Medina, Summit, Portage, Trumbull and Mahoning counties in 2025, Scherer said.
Costa’s parents immigrated here from Sri Lanka in 2007.
She became a Cub Scout in 2018.
That year, the organization, formerly known as Boy Scouts of America, began allowing girls to join Cub Scouts, the program for younger children. The following year, Boy Scouts rebranded to Scouts BSA and began allowing girls to pursue Eagle Scout recognition.
In December 2025, Costa received the Eagle Scout rank, which only 4% of Scouts have earned, according to the Heart of America Council.
The rank requires a lengthy review process, with requirements including demonstrating understanding of the Scout Oath and Scout Law, earning 21 merit badges and serving in leadership positions.
Costa said that through being a Scout, she has learned about a lot of skills and subjects. Currently, she is part of two packs and is working with young Scouts in one and serving as a den chief for the other. She is also a junior assistant scoutmaster, supervising and supporting other young leaders.
After graduating from high school, she plans to pursue college and possibly enter the medical field in the future.
The Akron Beacon Journal recently sat down with Costa to learn about what her accomplishments and heritage mean to her. Here’s how our conversation went.
What does it mean to be part of the Scouting community?
“It’s a connection between everybody, so if I run into someone, and I figure out that they’re a Scout, there’s an instant bond because we’ve gone through different things that every Scout has to go through.
"… Everybody follows the Scout Oath and Scout Law, … being kind, courteous, helpful, friendly, trustworthy — all these things we all basically have in common because those are our core beliefs and truths.
"… Scouts do a lot of the leading, so you're working with other Scouts and figuring out how to share the work, how to communicate with them in a way that you're not being overbearing, and so it's definitely a different experience, and it's a lot of responsibility, especially if you are the person in a leadership role, but it’s good character building.”
What does your heritage mean to you?
“I've been to Sri Lanka multiple times, and actually, in 2023, my brother and I met up with a Scout troop there.
"We were able to experience what they were doing as they were having an event there, and we got to speak with them, see what their campsites were like, how they went about with their event and stuff like that, and so that also gave us an idea of what happens in Sri Lanka and what the differences and similarities between us were.
"… I think it was a lot of similarities compared to differences because we all, around the world, follow the same Scout Oath and Scout Law.”
How has your heritage played a part in your Scouting journey?
“It's definitely been a different experience from what others go through.
"… My heritage has played a part in how I process things or experience things, so even from my Court of Honor, we didn't do it exactly how other people do it.
"We had this lamp that was brought in, and we had almost every guest light a lamp — those who have helped me within my Scouting journey, or just my normal life — which is from my culture rather than just Scouting.”
How does it feel to represent your culture as the first female Sri Lankan American Scout to earn the Eagle rank?
“It's an honor, and it's a very good opportunity. I wouldn't have had this opportunity if my parents had not decided to come to America, but I think it also helps pave a pathway for those who come after me.
"I am certain that there will be Eagle Scouts after me, coming from my pack, coming from my troop, and I hope there will be other Sri Lankan girls who become Eagle Scouts, so I think this can be looked at as an inspiration. If I can do it, then I think so many other people could be able to do it.”
Source: beacon journal
--Agencies
