Steven Beck readies to become Eagle Scout

Another Eagle Scout is preparing to take wing.

Steve Beck of Dexter has completed his requirements for the top Scouting rank, and will receive the honor on July 22. Kent, the 16-year-old son of Steve and Stephanie Kent, has earned 39 merit badges en route to the rank, well over the 21 minimum to be considered for the rank.

"They were in canoeing, aviation, Indian lore, American heritage, just all kinds of stuff," he said Tuesday morning. Of course, 12 of them were in specified areas, as required for the rank.: Camping, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Emergency Preparedness, Environmental Science, First Aid, Swimming, Financial Management, Personal Management, Personal Fitness, Family Life.

Beck also completed a community service project for the rank. "I put signs on 30 different trees out at Lake Wappapello," he said, "identifying what kinds they are."

Beck said he sought the Eagle Scout rank because it had ben a long-time goal. "It's something I always wanted to do for the past 10 years," he said.

Beck started in Scouting as a Tiger Scout at age 6.

He added Scouting has taught him self-reliance, self-discipline and initiative. His mother added she had seen other benefits to Scouting. "It has taught him to show more respect for other people," she said, "and it has taught him responsibility.

"I see a lot more responsibility in him since he has been in scouting."

But for Beck, Scouting has been fun, also. "I get to do stuff I wouldn't get to do otherwise," he said, "like hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina..

"We just got back from that."

Only about 2 percent of boys who enter Scouting make it to Eagle Scout rank. Dexter-based Troop 200, however, has produced 11 such scouts, counting Beck, in the last five years.

And there are reportedly even more waiting in the wings.

gexelby@dailystatesman.com

A picture of Beck appears on page 2.