Troy Athens junior Forrest Burnett, 17, of Troy earned his Eagle Scout award during a recent ceremony at Troy Community Center. At the Nov. 29 ceremony, Forrest's family, friends and fellow scouts helped celebrate his accomplishment.

Forrest has been a member of Scout Troop 1710 since he became a Boy Scout in 2006. The skills, values and leadership abilities Forrest has developed as a scout will serve him well throughout his life.

Achieving the rank of Eagle Scout is the highest award within Scouting, and only a small fraction of all Boy Scouts become Eagle Scouts. Forrest needed to earn at least 21 merit badges (he earned 24), complete an extensive service project and pass a board of review to become an Eagle Scout.

Forrest also maintains a GPA of 4.08 at Troy Athens. In addition to scouting, he plays travel soccer and is in the Athens' marching band and symphony band. Forrest lives in Troy with his siblings – Autumn, Hunter, and Trevor – and his proud parents, Sherry and Matthew Burnett. 

The preceding information was submitted by John Rohrbeck.