Madison teen attains Eagle Scout rank

Andrew Bedard, who constructed mulch boxes around trees at Palmer Park for his Eagle scout project, was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout on June 6. (Contributed)

By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer

MADISON – In continuing with his own family’s tradition, Andrew Bedard, 16, of Madison achieved scouting’s highest rank, Eagle Scout, at a ceremony on June 6. The ceremony was officially recognized as the 100 Eagles Celebration, as Troop 350 of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church celebrated 100 Eagle Scouts produced by the Madison troop, which was founded in 1995.

His older brother Matthew, who is an Eagle and his father, Michael, who also is an Eagle Scout, joined Andrew at the ceremony.

For his Eagle project, Bedard, with the help of several fellow scouts, constructed mulch boxes at Palmer Park. He also attained the required 21 merit badges, and then some, to achieve the rank, which an estimated 3 percent of all scouts are awarded.

“I feel that the City of Madison, more specifically, Palmer Park, was enhanced through the completion of my service project because prior to my addition, mulch would litter the parking lot,” Bedard said.

Patrick Brady, Christopher Tran and Siddhu Srikakolapu were the other three scouts who joined forces for one super ceremony on June 6 at the Monte Sano Lodge.

The award was the culmination of a long road for Bedard, who started scouting as a Cub Scout in Pack 83.

Bedard is a rising senior at Bob Jones High School and plans to study computer science at Auburn University. He and Matthew have a younger brother Mitchell, who is currently a First Class scout, which is three ranks away from Eagle.