CRESTVIEW — Austin Carrico is Crestview's newest Eagle Scout.
Boy Scout Troop 773, which purportedly produces more Eagle Scouts than the national average, continued the trend Dec. 20, when the 15-year-old received his Eagle neckerchief.
‘A GREAT UNDERTAKING'
In addition to attaining more than 75 merit badges, Austin designed and supervised restoration projects at Krul Lake State Recreation Area as his Eagle service project.
Approximately 20 Boy Scouts and adult volunteers invested more than 256 service hours on the roughly $1,000 project, adult volunteer Tim Lindenberger said.
“To earn the highest rank in Scouting, a scout must spend an incredible amount of time,” Lindenberger said. “Austin’s Eagle project was a great undertaking.”
TRAIL TO EAGLE
Austin, the son of Paulina and Kelly Carrico, began his Trail to Eagle on March 18, 2011, after Cub Scouts and Webelos, when he attained the rank of Scout before progressing through Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star and Life Scout, which he reached on Feb. 24.
In addition to 80 merit badges, Austin earned the Boy Scouts Medal of Merit, the Historic Trails Award, the National Outdoor Award and multiple trail medals.
“He wants to earn all the merit badges,” Kelly Carrico, Troop 773’s assistant scout master, said, noting there are currently 135 badges available.
“I really strived to earn this great accomplishment,” Austin said after receiving his Eagle rank. “But I couldn’t do it by myself,” he added, thanking his brother, scout leaders and fellow Eagle Scouts.
“I look forward to both what he will accomplish in his troop, and what he’ll accomplish in his future,” Boy Scout Gulf Coast Council Unit Commissioner Rae Schwartz said during the Court of Honor.
Email Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview teen earns Eagle honor