Ellsworth junior Trevor Doherty has made it to Eagle Scout after years of hard work climbing the ranks.

“It’s a sense of accomplishment. I’ve been working toward this, and many people work toward this almost their entire youth. It’s a sense of leadership and sense of pride,” Doherty said.

Doherty has secured over 20 merit badges, completed five ranks, taken on leadership roles including senior patrol leader and completed his Eagle Scout project by creating a trail sign at Cairns Woods along with some landscaping work.

“That’s what a lot of people struggle with is merit badges and the project. The project is any type of community service that will impact the school, a religious aspect of your life or the community,” Doherty said.

Through help from the Ellsworth Village Board and a handful of donating businesses, Doherty completed a goal that he has strove for over the course of many years.

“It says that I’m very determined. With a lot of things in life, I will set my mind to something, it will be done. It doesn’t matter what punches I face or any adversity, I will get it done,” Doherty said.

Doherty has learned a lot about himself over the years. He has been involved in 4-H, FFA and trap shooting, but he has still learned new things about himself through Scouts. His favorite of the merit badges was in fly fishing.

“Fly fishing and fly tying, I really learned a lot in that. I tie my own flies after I learned how to do that through scouting,” Doherty said.

Doherty has also learned about himself as a leader, coaching the troop through sailing, kayaking, building fires and much more.

“How to lead a large group of people in different settings,” Doherty said. “Scouting has put me in leadership roles in not your typical classroom settings. You’re doing it outdoors. You’re doing it in, some people consider, high stress situations.”