ROCHESTER – Achieving the Eagle Scout rank takes about four to six years on average, but Audrey Blanchard, Rochester’s first female Eagle Scout, has completed it in two and a half.

She was awarded the honor at a ceremony on Sunday, June 26, at the First Congregational Church.

Audrey is 18 and graduated from Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School in the computer aided design program in 2021. She now attends Bridgewater State University, where she studies biology.

Blanchard’s father, Michael Blanchard, is the scoutmaster for Rochester, and her mother is troop leader for the Girl Scouts. Blanchard wanted to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, but didn’t have the opportunity to join and try for it until the Boy Scouts of America rebranded themselves the Scouts BSA and welcomed her to their ranks in 2019.

“Achieving Eagle was something that seemed impossible to reach, even my dad didn’t think I’d have enough time to do it,” Blanchard said. When she was allowed to join the Boy Scouts, she decided to aim for Eagle, because “I got the opportunity to show my dad that I can achieve anything I put my mind to.”

To earn the Eagle Scout ranking, Blanchard had to earn 21 merit badges, hold the rank of Life Scout for at least six months, serve in a leadership role in the scouts, provide character references, and complete a service project.

“Having earned all the merit badges, ranks, and projects in that time was difficult,” said Blanchard. “But I kept my motivation and goals in mind and powered through it.”

Blanchard finished her service project the day before her 18th birthday, when she built two picnic tables for the YMCA campsite.

“I’m still amazed at how well I was able to manage my time efficiently,” she said.

Her accomplishment puts her among the ranks of about 1,000 other female Eagle Scouts across the country.

“This was a great accomplishment on her part,” said Select Board member Paul Ciaburri, who recognized her achievement at the Select Board meeting on Monday, June 27. 

“I’m so happy to have earned the title of Eagle Scout and to hopefully be a good role model for any other girls thinking about joining or who are in Boy Scouts right now,” Blanchard said. “The title of Eagle Scout is just proof that I’m prepared and ready to take on the world ahead of me.”