Share and Follow
Editor’s note: A number of scouts have achieved 141 merit badges. It’s unclear who achieved this milestone first.
CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) — A 16-year-old scout from Cedar Park has reached a remarkable milestone by earning all 141 merit badges offered by Scouting America, a feat achieved by only a handful of participants in the program’s history.
Anya Satija, a member of Troop 3541, dedicated six years to accomplishing this rare goal.
“I think I’m still processing it… just the fact that it’s such a big accomplishment, and it’s finally done,” she expressed with enthusiasm. “It does feel good to be finally done with it.”
Veteran-owned businesses have been recognized following a coaching program.
“I think I’m still processing it… just the fact that it’s such a big accomplishment, and it’s finally done,” she said cheerfully. “It does feel good to be finally done with it.”
A merit badge is a mark of knowledge. It shows that a scout has learned the history and skills in a subject and has demonstrated those skills. Earning one requires a merit badge counselor an adult volunteer with expertise in the badge’s subject to affirm that the scout has met a badge’s requirements.
So, each one takes time. Some were quick for Anya, but she said that the bugling merit badge took her two years of learning the instrument and how to read sheet music.
Extremely rare feat
The percentage of scouts to earn all available merit badges is vanishingly small; less than 700 scouts have achieved this. Only 15 girls have accomplished this since 2019, when Scouting America began to allow them into the program.
Anya joined the program in 2019 as well, which was intimidating at first.
“It was a little bit scary, but then I just jumped into it,” she said. “I’ve really enjoyed my time since… it was never something I had to think about doing. It was just a constant.”
Charles Mead, spokesperson for Scouting America Capitol Area Council, told KXAN on Friday that other scouts nationally have completed 141 merit badges. He noted that the council isn’t able to identify which scout finished all of the requirements “first,” but stressed that that doesn’t take away from the achievement.
“We’re all very proud of Anya and what she has accomplished,” Mead said. “Scouting’s merit badge program gives young people a chance to discover and learn skills or even possible career choices that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. We can’t wait to see what Anya will do with all the knowledge she’s gained.”
KXAN found fewer than 10 other scouts nationwide who have earned every badge, but Anya could be the first in Texas.
Understanding the changing number of badges
The number of badges has changed over the years. Prior to the late 2025 addition of the Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Multisport merit badges, there were 138 badges. Anya’s favorites were Backpacking and Small Boat Sailing.
Which badges are available to earn also changes. One of the badges Anya earned, Citizenship in Society, was discontinued on Feb. 27 just one day after KXAN learned of her achievement. Anya said she was sad to hear it was going away, but happy that she was able to earn it.
Neeraj Satija, Anya’s father, provided KXAN with more highlights from his daughter’s time as a scout. She’s a member of the Order of the Arrow (scouting’s honor society), earned recognition for her recruitment efforts, a translator patch and the World Conservation Award. Anya has also served in her troop’s leadership.
“I was just really confused why other awards didn’t get as much attention as merit badges do,” Anya said. “So then I started just going down the rabbit hole, looking at awards and what I could get. It was just really fun earning all of them.”
In particular, she expressed fondness for her high adventure triple crown, which is earned by completing programs at three of Scouting’s high adventure bases. Anya completed Philmont (a week-long backpack trip in New Mexico), Sea Base (a week on a ship near Florida) and Northern Tier (a week-long canoe trip in Minnesota).
The pinnacle achievement, the Eagle rank, still lies ahead for Anya. One of the Eagle requirements is for a scout to earn just 21 merit badges.
“I have been a Life Scout for a very long time, but I think I was just more invested in getting my merit badges done rather than Eagle,” she said. “But yeah, that’s next up.”