Submitted by April Miller and Northern Star Council/BSA
SPRING VALLEY, WI – Samuel Louis Miller, age 18, of Spring Valley, Wisconsin, has earned the Eagle Scout Award, the highest advancement rank within the Boy Scouts of America.
According to the BSA website “Eagle Scouts: Merit Beyond the Badge,” one hundred years after Arthur Eldred of New York earned this nation’s first Eagle Scout Award, new, independent research demonstrates the significant, positive impact Eagle Scouts have on society every day. Since it was first awarded in 1912, more than 2 million young men have achieved the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank.
The study conducted by Baylor University, Merit Beyond the Badges, found that Eagle Scouts are more likely than men who have never been in Scouting to:
- Have higher levels of planning and preparation skills, be goal-oriented, and network with others.
- Be in a leadership position at their place of employment or local community.
- Report having closer relationships with family and friends.
- Volunteer for religious and nonreligious organizations.
- Donate money to charitable groups.
- Work with others to improve their neighborhoods.
This independent research was funded by the Templeton Foundation and conducted by Baylor University in 2010. The Boy Scouts of America has linked to it with the permission of Baylor University Institute for Studies of Religion, Program on Prosocial Behavior. This study only includes findings on men who are Eagle Scouts as women were not eligible to earn Eagle Scout at the time this study was conducted.
Samuel Miller will be recognized in an Eagle Scout Ceremony this fall.
A member of Troop 145, Samuel is one of approximately four percent of all Boy Scouts who attain the Eagle rank, according to Scoutmaster Shawn Miller.
Each candidate must earn 21 merit badges and successfully complete a significant service project benefitting his community, faith organization, or school demonstrating leadership to earn his Eagle Scout Award. Samuel’s Eagle Project is a flag burning area at the Spring Valley Veterans Memorial Park. The Spring Valley Veterans Memorial Park was commissioned by the Rickerd-Danielson American Legion Post 227 and Auxiliary Unit 227. Troop 145 works closely with American Legion Post 227 on Memorial Day ceremonies, etc.
Samuel has served as Troop 145 Senior Patrol Leader and received multiple Scouting honors. Samuel joins other outstanding American citizens who have become Eagle Scouts, among them former President Gerald R. Ford, Jr., astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, cinematographer, Steven Spielberg and the former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.
Samuel is a member of Gilman Lutheran Church and is active in National Honor Society, Spring Valley Stagehands Theatre (appearing recently as Lefou in the 2024 summer musical, “Beauty and the Beast”), band, choir at Spring Valley High School where he is a senior.
Samuel is the son of Shawn and April Miller of Spring Valley, Wisconsin.
