NY Boy Scout earns all 121 merit badges, rare feat [with picture]

silive.com ^ | 12/29/2008 | AP

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — A Long Island teenager has earned all 121 merit badges offered by the Boy Scouts of America. It's an accomplishment the local arm of the organization calls "an almost unheard-of feat."

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

I spent 20 minutes looking for a picture of him, and here it is:

Shawn Goldsmith

(Disregard the incorrect information on the blog.)

[Grunthor]

“NY Boy Scout earns all 121 merit badges, rare feat [with picture]”

Boy, the girls will be falling all over themselves for him after this news, lol.

But serious, that is a great thing to see in Americas youth. Set a positive goal and then work at it until you reach it. He’s a roll model for young men everywhere.

[Joann37]

What an accomplishment! Congratulations to Shawn!

[Roccus]

[P8riot]

Wow! I earned my 31st 38yrs ago. But I still wear a Scout uniform.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Look for him to be a CEO, General/Admiral or Governor someday.

[mgc1122]

Kudos to him. The photo of the double MB sash is impressive.

My brain hurts from thinking about the math from trying to calculate the number of palms ... LOL. 20?

[DieHard the Hunter]

Boy Scouts Rule!
Shawn Goldsmith for POTUS!

[billorites]

It's fascinating how many former Eagle Scouts, CAP Cadets, etc. are to be found in high level position in business, government, etc.

Whether youth leadership programs lead towards success or simply are vehicles for individuals already on the fast-track isn't clear to me.

I'd encourage any young person to be involved in that sort of thing. Junior Achievement is another breeding ground.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Congratulations to you! 31 is no small feat either.

[MathDoc]

I'm impressed.

[LiberConservative]

Congrats, Shawn. Very impressive. Boy Scouts Rock!

[netmilsmom]

He’s a little cutie too.
Now if my daughter was just a little older......

[EyeGuy]

This Eagle Scout is already vastly more qualified than the President Elect.......but then so is your average Tenderfoot.

[giant sable]

The record, I believe, is held by a Scout in the early 1970s. Like Goldsmith (and another Eagle last year) he also earned the complete list of merit badges — but during an era when they totaled more than 140. The BSA merit badge catalog was subsequently shortened . . .so that Scout will probably hold the record forever.

[P8riot]

I was only 14 when I did it.

[theDentist]

I guess we better come up with another feat for him, or he may get bored and put those 121 feats to nefarious use.

just kidding. Well done

[Pawtucket Patriot]

And he doesn’t look like a big dork either. Great job man, the BSA should give an award, scholarship, something to have to go through all of those but even stamp collecting, poetry, rug knitting merit badges.

[Viking2002]

I think I earned a total of seven. I can take care of myself in the outdoors, but this is one kid I'd want with me if I ever really got lost in the boonies.