Ben McKenzie, age 17, has earned the Boy Scouts of America’s highest advancement award, the Eagle Scout Award.

The Brookhaven teen is a member of Wesson Boy Scout Troop 125, and one of only approximately 4 percent of all Scouts to attain the Eagle rank.

Each candidate must earn 21 merit badges and successfully complete a community, church, or school service project to earn his Eagle; McKenzie chose to partner with BillionGraves.com to photograph, GPS locate, and catalog to a national database, all graves in the Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Wesson.

At age 7, McKenzie joined Wesson Cub Scout Pack 125 and later earned their highest award, Arrow of Light. In 2017, he crossed over to Wesson Boy Scout Troop 125 and began the journey to Eagle. In 2019 he was elected by his peers to the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s National Honor Society. He currently serves as Chaplain Aide and Senior Patrol Leader for the Troop. 

McKenzie is a dedicated member of Zion Hill Baptist Church in Wesson and is active in First Priority, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, band, soccer, and tennis at Wesson Attendance Center, where he is Junior Class President. He is the son of Wayne and Heather McKenzie of Brookhaven.