The Most Popular and Least Popular Boy Scout Merit Badges

Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Donnie Rhett Koonce is an ophthalmic assistant at Charlotte Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Associates, PA. Away from work, Donnie Rhett Koonce spends time engaging with various philanthropic groups and organizations, including the Boy Scouts of America.

There are more than 135 merit badges recognized by the Boy Scouts of America, representing achievement in sports, science, business, public works, and other areas of focus. While some merit badges are as old as the organization itself, others have been added more recently. The animation merit badge, for example, was introduced in 2015 and continues to grow in popularity. Requirements for the badge include a basic understanding of animation and related concepts and creating an original animation project.

As of 2018, fingerprinting and rifle shooting ranked as the two most popular merit badges, with 38,239 and 37,695 badges earned over the course of the year, respectively. The least popular badges, meanwhile, where American business and bugling, each with 551 badges earned in 2018. The exploration badge, the newest merit badge, grew by 60.3 percent between 2017 and 2018, with 3,351 badges earned, and is expected to continue it surge in popularity alongside the animation badge, another grower.

NSBE Summer Engineering Experience for Kids Goes Virtual

Donnie Rhett Koonce is an Eagle Scout and member of the Order of the Arrow, and also a member of several prestigious, minority-led organizations. Donnie Rhett Koonce has previously been involved with the Minority Association of Premedical Students and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).

The NSBE was established with the mission of increasing diversity within the field of engineering. In addition to providing career support and mentorship, the NSBE also organizes the nationwide youth STEM program called Summer Engineering Experience for Kids (SEEK).

The 3-week program introduces third to fifth graders to scientific and technology concepts through engaging, hands-on experiments and activities. The program also serves as an introduction to the NSBE youth chapters, NSBE Jr. Since 2007, more than 20,000 children have benefitted from SEEK’s programming.

In order to reach the most children in need, SEEK is offered at no cost. Due to the recent public health crisis, NSBE launched the SEEK program completely online for the first time in the program’s history. The organization also created a complementary, 150-page workbook and lesson plan that parents and educators can access at any time.

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