Recommended Merit Badges for Eagle Candidates

Prospective applicants can highly prepare for the SAR Scholarship competition by earning three recommended merit badges while advancing through Star and Life ranks. These badges align perfectly with the historical, genealogical, and educational core missions of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Scouting America American Heritage Merit Badge Patch

American Heritage

Investigate family immigration histories, interact with military veterans, and research local historic landmarks that shaped our nation's history.

Scouting America Genealogy Merit Badge Patch

Genealogy

Master vital lineage research skills, compile expansive family trees, and dig into primary source documents to trace your ancestry back through generations.

Scouting America Law Merit Badge Patch

Law

Examine the structural foundations of civil and criminal law, explore the U.S. Constitution, and discover the history of legal and justice systems.

Earned These Three Badges? Here is Your Next Step!

If you are a Scout who has completed the American Heritage, Genealogy, and Law merit badges—or a parent helping your Scout track their progress—you have already finished the hardest parts of competing for major SAR college scholarships!

Because these specific badges line up perfectly with our mission, your local Virginia SAR chapter wants to recognize your hard work and help you take the next step toward the Arthur M. & Berdena King Eagle Scout Contest. Here is how you can cash in on your effort:

  1. Request Your Chapter Recognition Certificate: Contact your local Virginia SAR chapter right away. A chapter representative can visit your troop's next Court of Honor to publicly present you with an official SAR Certificate of Recognition for your dedication to history and citizenship.
  2. Fast-Track Your Scholarship Application: The national Eagle Scout scholarship requires a 4-generation ancestor chart and a 500-word patriotic essay. If you earned your Genealogy badge, your chart is already done! If you earned American Heritage and Law, you already have the exact research foundation needed to write a winning essay.
  3. Unlock Your Family History: Bring your Genealogy merit badge family group records to a local SAR meeting. Our expert Chapter Genealogists will review your family tree for free to help you find out if you have a hidden Revolutionary War Patriot ancestor, opening the door to junior SAR or CAR membership.
  4. Explore More Cash Awards: Don't stop at the Eagle contest. Your work on these badges makes you an instant frontrunner for the SAR Essay Contest, the SAR Historical Oration Contest and the SAR Youth Video Contest, each contest offers thousands of dollars in additional state and national prize money.

Ready to connect with your local chapter?

Scroll down to the Resources section below to download the application forms, or use our Chapter Directory to find the SAR Eagle Scout Chairman nearest you.

SAR High School Eagle Scout Contest

The SAR High School Eagle Scout Contest is open to all Eagle Scouts who are currently registered in an active unit and have not reached their 19th birthday during the year of application. The year that the Eagle rank was awarded is not restricted. Each Eagle Scout must complete an application form, a four-generation ancestor chart, and a 500-word patriotic themed essay. The contest must be entered through a Virginia SAR chapter near the student’s residence.

For a contest application and rules click on the link above or contact Bruce Laubach, email is [email protected]. Entries for the Virginia contest are due in December 1st each year.

Winners of chapter competitions will have the opportunity to compete for one of the three Virginia SAR Cash Scholarship Awards, ranging from $200 to $1000.

National First Place Winner receives $10,000; Runner-up receives $6,000; and 2nd Runner-up receives $4,000.

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Robert E. Burt Boy Scout Volunteer Award | Eagle Scout Recognition Medal

Resources

  • National SAR Eagle Scout Program (website)
  • List of state contacts for Eagle Scout Program (PDF)
  • Robert E. Burt Boy Scout Volunteer Award Form (PDF)
  • 2024 Annual Meeting: Chairman’s Report — Eagle Scout Programs Committee (PDF)
  • Williamsburg Chapter awards Eagle Scouts (News: Jan 2023)

COMPATRIOT CORNER

Committee

The Committee administers the Eagle Scout Awards Program and the Arthur M. & Berdena King Eagle Scout Scholarship Awards Program. It maintains continuing liaison with the leadership of Boy Scouts of America organization. 

(1) The Eagle Scout Committee is responsible for promoting participation in the Eagle Scout Recognition and Scholarship Programs.  All chapters in the Virginia Society are encouraged to participate by appointing a Chapter Eagle Scout Chairman who will implement the chapter’s program in conformity with the NSSAR Administrative Guide-Eagle Scout Recognition and Scholarship Program (copies of which will be provided each chapter).

(2) Eligible Eagle Scouts will be presented a "Certificate of Recognition" upon request and made aware of the Scholarship program and invited to participate through

(1) The Virginia Society website that includes pages dedicated to the Eagle Scout Program and provides instructions to the scout on how to participate; or

(2) direct or indirect mailings (electronic or otherwise) to the scout, his troop or local council with information about the scholarship program and instructions on how to participate.

(3) The Committee will assist the chapters in implementing their respective programs, including the supply of necessary material – application forms, ancestor charts, essay topic suggestions and instructions, National SAR promotional brochure and certificates of recognition. The required application forms, ancestor chart and instructions and suggested topics for the essay can be downloaded from either the Virginia Society or National SAR websites.  Chapters may elect to award their winning entrant the Eagle Scout Medal.  In 2008 the National Eagle Scout Committee voted to reimburse local chapters for Eagle Scout Medals they present. The obtaining of the National supplied medals and the redistribution of the medals to the chapters will be the responsibility of the Committee Chairman assisted by the Chairman of the Awards Committee.

(4) All applicants are required to be sponsored by a Virginia chapter, unless sponsored by The Virginia Society in the event no such chapter representation exists.  Each sponsoring organization will select its winning application and forward a copy to The Virginia Society Eagle Scout Chairman for entry into the State level of competition that will be judged by the members of The Virginia Society Eagle Scout Committee.

Committee Members:

  • Bruce Laubach (Chair), (Williamsburg [email protected]
  • Ronald L. Adolphi (Williamsburg)
  • Stephen A. Atkinson (Jamestown (HQ))
  • Spurgeon C. Keith, Jr. (Fincastle Resolutions)

Robert E. Burt Boy Scout Volunteer Award

Our inspiration is from our past, our duty is in the present, our hope is in the future.

Ribbon in red, white and blue cloth suspending a bronze circular medal with the Boy Scouts of America logo. Reverse side reads: Our Inspiration is from our past, our duty is in the present, our home is in the futureThe Eagle Scout Committee also processes nominations for the Robert E. Burt Boy Scout Volunteer Award. The Robert E. Burt Boy Scout Volunteer Award is a BSA-recognized Community Organization Award presented to members of the SAR in good standing who have displayed outstanding dedication to the Scouting Program. Award criteria are based on work accomplishment and dedication rather than specific length of service time. The medal is awarded by the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution upon nomination by a state society. Each state society may nominate at least two (2) awardees per calendar year. At the Spring SAR Leadership Meeting, the Eagle Scout Committee will determine whether a state society may nominate additional awardees during that calendar year using a formula based on each state’s membership as of January 31st of that year. Awards not presented may not be carried over to subsequent years. Those individuals interested in the Robert E. Burt Boy Scout Volunteer Award should review and complete the application form (see Resources).

Virginia SAR Eagle Scout Recognition Medal

Virginia SAR Eagle Scout Award Medal

The Eagle Scout Recognition Medal was authorized in 2022. The red, white and blue colors of the drape symbolize honor, loyalty and courage and are present on ribbons of the BSA Eagle Scout and the Robert E. Burt awards. The silver eagle on a field of blue in the center of the medallion represents the eagle on the eagle statue awarded to the state winner of the Arthur M. & Berdena King Eagle Scout Contest.

The medal is earned upon the presentation of 10 Eagle Scout recognition packages consisting of a certificate, congratulatory letter and scholarship information flyer at an Eagle Court of Honor.

Presentations at a Court of Honor for more than one Eagle Scout counts as the number presented. Alternatively, delivery of 50 such packages via mail satisfies the requirement. The Virginia SAR President may also award this medal to individuals demonstrating exceptional service in the cultivation of relationships with the Boy Scouts of America in Virginia. The Eagle Scout Recognition medal will be administered by the Virginia SAR Eagle Scout Program committee. Chapters will be responsible for documenting the names of Compatriots who participated in qualifying presentations for the purposes of the Eagle Scout Recognition medal. Precedence 61f.