A local Eagle Scout is joining another very elite group.
Back in 2010, Bailey Rose of Troop 77 set out on a mission to earn every single merit badge available by the Boy Scouts of America. 7-and-a-half years later, he finally reached his incredible goal by earning all 140 merit badges. His accomplishment was recognized during a special ceremony Monday night in Greenville.
According to the Bay Lakes Council, in the 108 year history of the Boy Scouts, less than 400 scouts have achieved this feat. Rose said he just set his mind to it and never lost sight of his goal.
"You don't know if you're going to make it, what's going to be along the way, what obstacles are going to stop you, but it's something you're determined to get and you just work towards everyday putting in a little more effort. It's an honor because it's like a summit. It's something you worked hard to reach and now you're at the top, and the view is amazing," he said.
Rose's quest to earn all of the merit badges took him across the country and also out of his comfort zone. He had to tackle his fear of rock climbing.
Rose said his most rewarding badge introduced him to computer software engineering. It's a field he plans to pursue when he heads to the University of Alabama this fall. But before he leaves for college, he'll spend six weeks as a staff member at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico where he will go backpacking with fellow scouts and teach them how to survive in the outdoors.
