Emily Long, first local female Eagle Scout - Apex Filling

Apex Filling Systems is proud to support Scouts BSA  Lasalle Council. We are pleased to be a part of moving scouting forward into new eras like announcing Lasalle Council’s first female Eagle Scout Emily Long. Only 8% of scouts earn the honor becoming eagle scouts. The rank of eagle is a very difficult achievement. Some of the most distinguished leaders in the United States were eagles like Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Hank Aaron, Michael Jordan and Martin Luther King Jr..

Emily Long, first local female scout

Emily Long made history on February 1st, 2021 when she became one of the nation’s first female Eagle Scouts – a prestigious achievement attained by some of the country’s most noteworthy figures. Emily is among hundreds of young women who will make up the Inaugural Class of female Eagle Scouts.

“Earning the rank of Eagle Scout takes hard work and perseverance, and we are honored to recognize Emily for this significant accomplishment,” said LaSalle Council Scout executive, John Cary. “Along the journey to Eagle Scout, young people gain new skills, learn to overcome obstacles and demonstrate leadership among their peers and in their communities. These benefits are invaluable for everyone, and we are thrilled that they are now available to even more youth.”

Young women have been part of Scouting for decades in co-ed programs offered by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), including Sea Scouts, Venturing, Exploring and STEM Scouts. The BSA expanded that legacy further in recent years by welcoming girls into Cub Scouts and then into Scouts BSA last February 2020. Scouts BSA is the program for youth ages 11 to 17 previously known as Boy Scouts. Since then, tens of thousands of young women throughout northern Indiana and southwest Michigan and across the country have joined the organization’s most iconic program with many, including Emily, working their way toward the rank of Eagle Scout.

Emily Long stated “I joined Scouts, BSA to have fun while learning new things, create lifelong friendships, and to inspire other women to strive for their aspirations. From this experience I was able to gain self-confidence, communication strategies, as well as priceless memories.”

Eagle Scout is the program’s highest rank, which only about 6% of Scouts achieve on average. To earn it, an individual has to take on leadership roles within their troop and their community; earn a minimum of 21 merit badges that cover a broad range of topics including first aid and safety, civics, business and the environment; and they must research, organize and complete a large community service project.

Emily’s Eagle Scout project is about natural water conservation and erosion prevention. The project is to clean out parts of Buchanan Michigan’s local creeks. The project has improved the amount of water going into the local mill and the treatment facility. This conservation project also will limit the erosion and attempt to direct water to the center of the creeks in Buchanan MI.

Apex Filling Systems has several employees that are active scouters as well as a number of past scouts. We support scouting in a variety of ways from giving employees time off for scouting activities to our CEO, Alicia Cannon, serving as a fundraising chairperson for the Potawatomi District Friends of Scouting campaign.

Apex Filling Systems is especially proud of supporting Lasalle Council’s first eagle because we are always very supportive of women in leadership roles.  We support Women in Manufacturing for Northwest Indiana through contributions and by our CEO, Alicia Cannon, serving on their board of directors.. Women in Manufacturing® (WiM) is the only national trade association dedicated to providing year-round support to women who have chosen a career in the manufacturing industry. At present, more than 5,800 individual members representing nearly 1,000 manufacturing companies have joined our growing ranks of industry professionals. WiM encompasses manufacturers of all types and welcomes individuals from every job function – from production to the C-Suite. Membership is available to women and men working within the manufacturing sector.

https://www.womeninmanufacturing.org/

Darren Allie

With 15 years experience in the packaging industry, Darren has traveled the world on jobs of all sizes. He has been working in everything from project management, to sales, to production and has the experience to see the entire process from start to end. Darren steps in for projects to review difficult applications to help come up with solutions that work for every customer. Difficult details are where he excels. Creating a solution built for each customer! Outside of Apex Filling, Darren likes to work on motorcycles, play with fabrication, and spend time working on cars. If you stop by you might even get to see his bike