Rochester High School senior Blake Livingston recently attained the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.
He was recognized for his achievement on the Rochester School District Facebook page after his mother, Candace Livingston, reached out to the district to let them know about his promotion.
Blake has been a Boy Scout ever since joining the program when the family moved to Rochester in 2012.
“He started Scouts with Pack 9317 in Rochester as a Tiger in first grade and has worked his way up the ranks all the way to Eagle with Troop 9317,” Candace said in an email.
Eagle Scout is the highest rank one can attain in the Boy Scouts, with on average only 25% of kids in the program reaching it according to Candace.
To get the rank, Blake had to accomplish a number of requirements, including earning at least 21 merit badges, holding troop leadership positions, passing a review board and organizing and completing a significant community service project.
“Blake’s project was to make a new building sign for the Historic Gate City Schoolhouse,” Candace said. “He also included a road sign for the community to be able to see where the turn for the entrance is much easier.”
Located at 16925 Moon Road SW in the unincorporated community of Gate just northwest of Rochester, the Historic Gate City Schoolhouse is a one-room schoolhouse originally constructed in 1910.
It served as a school for first through eighth grades until 1942, when the schoolhouse was merged with the Rochester School District, according to the Gate Community Club, which has been working to preserve it since 1944.
Now, the Historic Gate City Schoolhouse serves as a community meeting and event center for the Gate Community Club.
“Blake loves scouting because it was an opportunity to continuously help his community through service,” Candace added.
She also hopes Blake’s accomplishment will inspire others to also volunteer, along with giving credit for his work and the work of other kids in the Boy Scouts like him.
To learn more about the Historic Gate City Schoolhouse and upcoming Gate Community Club events, visit https://gatecityschoolhouse.com/.
