2006 - HIGHLIGHTS & ACHIEVEMENTS

Josh Somerville

February 2006

Josh Somerville, a 2005 home school graduate from Mesa has achieved the highest honor in Boy Scouts of the Eagle Scout Rank. Josh, who was home schooled K – 12, will be presented with this honor on Saturday, March 4, 2006.

Statistics show that only 3% of all scouts achieve the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout. To achieve this highest rank, scouts must meet the requirements of the ranks of Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star and Life. Additionally, the scout must earn twenty-one specific merit badges, serve actively in a leadership position within the troop, and plan, develop, execute, and supervise an approved service project helpful to his community.

To earn the Eagle Rank, Josh earned thirty merit badges, including the twenty-one required for Eagle. He served in two leadership positions within his troop: Quartermaster and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. Josh was approached by a representative of Banner Desert Samaritan Hospital requesting that they be the recipient of his Eagle project. After presenting his plan to the Troop Committee and the Council, he was approved to execute his project. Josh led a group of volunteers to plant several trees around the exterior of the hospital. Additionally, he collected items from the public that were needed by the patients at the hospital. He also collected finances to help further the building of the new children’s tower, which will help facilitate more patients in the future.