An Eagle Scout Advances with Assist From Special Needs Troop



Rick Newell at the start of a
recent meeting.

 DENVER  -- A legion of supporters and a troop for special-needs boys allowed 15-year-old Ricky Newell to beat the odds and earn the rank of Eagle Scout. Newell had dropped out of scouts twice before, but in 2006, he joined Troop 5280, then a brand-new troop for kids with disabilities.
After six months, he joined the more traditional Troop 870 and hasn't looked back.
Earlier this month, he was presented his Eagle Scout medal, placing him among fewer than 5 percent of scouts who earn the organization's highest honor.