Local Eagle Scout Brandon Scott Lawrence is just the fourth person in North Carolina to ever accomplish the impressive task of earning all 141 Boy Scouts of America merit badges.

BSA Troop 605 will present Lawrence with his last merit badge, # 141, at Court of Honor, taking place at the First Presbyterian Church, 122 Young St. Henderson, NC on Monday, March 7, 2016 at 7:00 P.M.

It will be a historic event. Earning all 141 badges has only been achieved by 283 other individuals in the last 100 years. On average about 18 scouts per year achieve this distinction.  Lawrence will receive four historical badges and one retired badge.

He earned his Eagle rank at the early age of 14 on September 19, 2013. He is now 16 and is very excited about accomplishing his latest goal.

Lawrence said, “Scouting has been a huge part of my life. I’ve learned things and done things that I’ve never thought were possible, from flying airplanes to scuba diving in a rock quarry. I have learned many different skills and things that I will never forget. I have made many friends and met many interesting people throughout my 10 years of scouting.”

He said, “I would tell younger scouts, or anyone with a goal, never stop trying.  There is always a way because nothing is impossible.”

Brandon’s father is Scott Lawrence, who has been a scout leader for nine years. Scott Lawrence said, “I feel like a peacock strutting around! (Brandon) came to me one day after school at the age of six and said he wanted to go to a cub scout recruitment at Aycock School, which is where he went to school. We went, and here it is ten years later, and he has enjoyed it so much. I have too because it became a family affair. We are best friends!”

Brandon’s start was as simple as receiving a flyer to go to a Cub Scout interest meeting.  He said, “I just wanted to go.” All the things scouts do gave him an urge to try it. “I have always loved trying new things and meeting new people ever since I was six,” Brandon said.

Scott Lawrence said, “Our troop has had the privilege of having 27 young men earn the rank of Eagle Scout in the past ten years. Forty percent of all boys who joined our troop have gone the distance. Brandon has really set his sites on the future. He is so active in church, school, sports, clubs, and volunteering in general. Brandon has the drive and ability to do what ever he sets his mind too.”

Brandon said he has always loved taking things to their fullest.  “When I was in Cub Scouts, I heard about the Arrow of Light, the highest achievement for Cub Scouts, and decided that was my goal. When I crossed into Boy Scouts, I heard of the Eagle Scout rank, the highest rank in Boy Scouts, and decided that was my new goal. After I got my Eagle, I tried to think of a new goal, and I found one in getting all the merit badges. I had 62 at the time, so that’s what I set my sights on. Two years later, I finished all 141 merit badges,” Brandon said.

Reference information provided by: https://www.meritbadgeknot.com/index.htm

(Editor’s Note – The majority of the beginning of this story was written and supplied to WIZS News in the form of a press release. The release was written by Don Wells, Assistant Scout Master to BSA Troop 605.  The majority of the concluding paragraphs were written by Brandon Lawrence and Scott Lawrence and supplied in writing.  This is important not only so each receives proper credit for his writing but also to point out that they have each had the opportunity to express themselves in their own words.  Taking the time and effort to do so and to do so extremely well, as they have done, is exactly what you would expect from an Eagle Scout and from scout leaders.  And may we at WIZS please express what a joy it is to publish and broadcast great news.)