Collierville’s Samuel Lee has earned the rank of Eagle Scout, an achievement attained by just two percent of Boy Scouts since the 1912 advent of American Scouting.
Lee started his Scouting career in fourth grade, working his way through Webelos I and Webelos II, and earning the Arrow of Light.
Eight adventure-filled years later, his quest to earn the rank of Eagle culminated as the 71st Eagle Scout from Troop 48, chartered by Faith Presbyterian Church.
He remembers his first campout as a Boy Scout at Natchez Trace State Park in Tennessee, and his first year of Scouting is proof-positive of his love for camping.
He went caving in Cumberland Caverns, completed an eleven-mile backpacking trek in Arkansas and a 25-mile canoeing trip in Tennessee, attended a week-long summer camp in Missouri, participated in Camporee in Mississippi, went to Scout Base, and finished the year with Winter Camp at Kia Kima.
Of the activities Lee participated in, summer camp provided the most fun and opportunity for advancement. He earned many of his 38 merit badges during camp, and ascended the Scout ranks by achieving many of his rank requirements during camp.
Among the memorable things Samuel did at summer camp were Orienteering, Archery and Pioneering. He thought these activities were more fun than work, and was pleasantly surprised to receive merit badges after completing the courses.
Lee’s Eagle Leadership Service Project consisted of constructing 20 equipment cabinets for the Collierville High School Band Color Guard.
With help from Troop 48 Scouts and leaders and several Marching Band members, he completed and delivered the cabinets last October. He undertook this project as a gesture of goodwill for the fun and learning that the Collierville High School Dragons Marching Band provided him throughout his high school tenure.
Lee’s other pursuits include writing, music composition, playing piano and guitar, and playing trumpet in the CHS Jazz Band. He credits a combination of Scouting and marching band for giving him a perspective of life that helps generate ideas for his writings and musical compositions.
After high school, Lee plans to attend University of Tennessee in Knoxville and major in Music Theory and Composition.
He is the son of Fred and Kelley Lee.
