30 April 2009
David Cano Can
Posted by admin under: recognition .
It used to seem like no one could ever do it and then someone did. And then someone else. Now David Cano has earned every single merit badge too. Some Boy Scouts really take the advancement and recognition method of Boy Scouts to its farthest points and Andrew Nelson is only too happy to share the news.
Eagle Scout David Cano earned all 121 Boy Scout merit badges and 20 Eagle Palms, becoming one of only three Scouts to do so in the United States.
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David, a junior at Blessed Trinity High School in Roswell, joined the rare ranks of the Boy Scouts as he became only one of three Scouts in the country to earn every single merit badge and more. In 2004, he earned Boy Scouts’ highest award, the Eagle, but also went on to receive all 20 Eagle Palms, which demonstrate Scout spirit and leadership ability.
He may be the first Scout to achieve such a record in Georgia. And he may be the only Hispanic Scout to ever achieve such success. According to published reports, only two Scouts have accomplished as much, one in Texas and one in California.
Well I don’t know what his ethnicity has to do with anything but he sure is a rare young man of incredible accomplishment. He surely will be able to achieve any goal he puts his mind to. I’m renaming that “can-do” attitude to the “Cano” attitude (heh. I’ll probably forget about this as soon as I hit the publish button). One side doubters… David Cano is coming’ through!
- Andrew Schigelone Hits 121
- Another Scout Maxes the Merit Badges
- Another 121 Achievement
- Steve Says Merit Badges Are Unlimited
- Play the Merit Badge Game
4 Comments so far...
Mike Walton (settummanque, the blackeagle) Says:
13 July 2009 at 7:42 am.
There has been several Scouts who have earned ALL of the merit badges available at their time, not just the two reported in the entry above. The BSA doesn’t keep records but guys like myself do and my research points to some eight or nine Scouts and two Explorers (when we had Explorers in our program!) who have earned all of the available merit badges during their time as a Scout or Explorer.
Keep in mind that the number of merit badges available goes up and down over the decades; back in the 70s the merit badge list exceeded 127 and the number of merit badges required to earn Eagle was 24, not 21 as today. Also keep in mind that some Eagles earned merit badges which no longer exist today – further making their acheivement something to really crow about.
Unfortunately, neither the BSA’s External Communications folks (for reasons below) nor the mainline press takes much of an interest in someone earning “all of the badges”. The last time they did was a couple of years ago, when a Scout earned all of the merit badges and was featured on National Public Radio and did the rounds of the network morning shows.
Why, do you ask, doesn’t the BSA track and promote this? Simple. “Each Scout advances at their own rate and speed.” That’s why. By not emphasizing that “if you earn all of the merit badges you’ll get a special do-dah”, the BSA is actually ENCOURAGING those Scouts and Venturers who desire to “earn them all” to truly do it for the right reason — because it is a PERSONAL CHALLENGE and not for getting “something else for doing it. ” Trust me, if the BSA created a “Got ‘em All” patch or certificiate or (God forbid!) square knot — you would see Scouts and Venturers all climbing over each other to make that goal – and lots of parents pushing their sons onward to “get that because not a whole lot of Scouts can do it…”
Besides, the BSA proudly states, there IS a recognition for those Scouts and Venturers who do indeed “earn them all” — the small Eagle Palm is awarded to Scouts who earn five (or more) merit badges AND serve actively in the unit AND who exercise some sort of leadership AND who participates in a “Mentor’s” (Scoutmaster’s) Conference and Board of Review after 90 days of tenure for each Palm. This means that every nine months after earning Eagle, one could earn a Silver Palm — and MANY SCOUTS HAVE DONE THIS. Being named as an “Eagle Scout with FIVE Silver Palms” is a lot better than just “Eagle Scout”…and even if you can’t “get them all”, you can still be recognized as a “Eagle Scout with Silver and Gold Palm” or “Bronze Palm” as appropriate.
Not taking anything away from those Scouts — David and the rest of those true over-achievers do deserve a LOT of recognition. But let’s keep it in perspective: First Class is the goal; Eagle Scout is the achievement, and anything over Eagle is a personal best.
Settummanque!
Mark Hooper Says:
15 September 2011 at 9:06 pm.
Sorry – I must disagree with Mr. Walton on this one. For the first time in the history of our Council we had a scout in my Troop earn all of the merit badges currently available – 130! When this was made known to the local council little notice was taken and the resons given were essentially the same as those set out by Mr. Walton. WHAT BUNK! Yes, this is a personal achievement, just like any other rank and award earned within the BSA. This achievement is truely amazing and shows years of dedication on the scouts part. While it is true that you can earn Eagle palms, to reflect that you earned 121+ merit badges, however, to do so, you must have earned your Eagle Rank by your 13th birthday – not many scouts pull that off and if they do they are then criticized for not being mature enough to understand the responsibilities and meaning behind the Eagle Rank. Thankfully, Mr. Troy Pugh at MeritBadgeKnot maintaines a site where scouts who have attained this outstanding feat can get some well deserved recognition for their efforts. In my opinion the BSA is missing the mark completely here – if it is indeed trying to promote excellence these are certainly the scouts you would expect to take notice of!
Mark Hooper
SM – Troop 46, Andrews, Texas
Nathen Varner Says:
1 October 2011 at 1:14 pm.
I have go disagree to, i know for a fact that there are 3 people alone in our troops history that have earned these badges, and gettting eagle scout at 13? ARE YOU CRAZY? you dont learn anything if you get it that fast, 14 or 15 is more appropriate b/c the point of scouts is to learn trades, i guaruntee you that kid the picture, doesnt remember 25% of what all those badges are about, people treat this like its a contest, but its not, i would rather get my eagle and earn one palm and learn alot from that, as opposed to getting 20 palms and learning nothing from it, the national council is smart for not having reconition, this way kids can learn more rather than making it a race, and the overall badge count is constantly changing, so you can never say you earned’ every badge’
Nathen Varner Says:
1 October 2011 at 1:16 pm.
I got my eagle at 14 and am still active 2 years later, i have 3 palms, and outside of scouting, run the camp cedars trading post in nebraska part time, run a buisness year round, the made an engine run of H20 , that is an achievment i will always treasure
