ALAMANCE COUNTY, N.C. — An Alamance County teenager worked for years to become an Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Boy Scouts of America. While the organization has faced its challenges over the years, the rank is still held in high regard.

Darian Myers is a senior at Eastern Alamance High School in Mebane, where his Eagle Scout project sits today.

Myers and his father Keith, who is also an Eagle Scout, built picnic benches for students to sit outside during the pandemic. 

“Whenever I see someone sitting at a table, it just feels really nice to see them doing it,” Myers said. 

Myers is also dually enrolled at Elon University, where he hopes to study psychology or law. Aside from his school work, he is a very busy teenager. He practices with his church band, plays for Elon’s e-sports team and he’s still involved with scouting as a senior patrol leader. 

“Scouting has allowed me to really connect with the people in my community and become a better person, not only for myself but for them,” Myers said. 

The determination and commitment Myers conveys comes from his time in Boy Scouts.

In order to earn the highest rank of Eagle Scout, it requires earning more than 20 merit badges in skills and hobbies, holding leadership positions within the troop and conducting community service projects all before their 18th birthday. Notable people held the same rank, such as Neil Armstrong, President Gerald Ford and Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. 

Only 8% of members of Boy Scouts of America earn the rank of Eagle Scout.

College admissions programs consider this feat for their applicants as well. In Myers’ case, all his hard work was worth it. He recently received the Eure North Carolina Achievement Scholarship, which will cover four years of tuition, books and studying abroad through Elon University. 

Boy Scouts of America, one of the largest organizations for children in the U.S., saw a 43% drop in enrollment between 2019 and 2020. The organization filed for bankruptcy in February 2020.

Myers says he wouldn’t be where he is today without the lessons in leadership his troop taught him. 

“I want to continue in scouts as an adult, continue as a leader and I think as a leader, I’m now helping people learn how to help others,” Myers said.

He hopes to continue in scouting to continue training future leaders. For more information, click here.