Four Boy Scouts were promoted to the rank of Eagle Scout during an Eagle Court of Honor Saturday, at 7 p.m. at the Crossway Church Pavilion. During the ceremony the Scouts were presented with a medal and a badge that recognizes their accomplishments.
Wes Allison, 17, Joseph Jabour, 16, Michael Rengel, 16, and Nicholas Crasta, 15 received their Eagle Scout status in Troop 102.
Crasta, who first started as a Tiger Scout when he was in first grade, said that he has a lot of respect for his scoutmaster, Paul Eagles.
Allison became a Weeblos when he was in 5th grade.
Rengel also started as a Tiger Scout in first grade and said Eagles is a persistent leader.
“He’s great. He likes to see scouts finish to their eagle scout. He doesn’t like to see an older scout quit,” he said.
The boys each did a service project as part of their requirements.
Crasta said he cleaned 100 to 200 headstones at United Methodist Church.
He had family and friends help him out cleaning headstones.
The boys were free to choose their own project, but had to get it approved by the Scout Master.
Crasta said it has to make some sort of impact, and they cannot receive any profit from the project.
Allison built a flowerbed outside of Porter’s Chapel Kindergarten and First grade hall. He said he built it using materials he got at Home Depot.
Rengel said he enjoys scouts and is excited about the opportunities that will open up for him now that he is an Eagle Scout.
“I enjoy the experience and just getting to that leadership position when people respect you more. It opens up more opportunities and it’s just really fun,” he said.
Allison said he is excited about the future and how Eagle Scouts will play into that.
“I thought it was fun and there are many job opportunities that people wouldn’t normally get. It also helps with college,” he said.
He added that he doesn’t know where he wants to go to college yet, but he wants to go into physical Therapy.
Crasta is also unsure of where he wants to go college, but he is thinking about going into the field of nephrology.
The one lesson that Allison said stood out the most for him was learning how to stick with something until the very end.
“Stay with anything you do as much as you can even in times of hardship. It will be very rewarding when you succeed,” he said.
The motto of the Boy Scouts is what stuck with Crasta.
“Be prepared. That leads you through almost anything. Be prepared for anything, not just in the wilderness, but be prepared for anything life throws at you,” he said.
Crasta has 35 badges, Allison has 28 badges, Jabour has 25 badges and Rengel has around 23 badges.
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts of America. Since its introduction in 1911, more than two million young men have earned the Eagle Scout rank.
Requirements include earning at least 21 merit badges and demonstrating Scout Spirit through the Boy Scout Oath and Law, service, and leadership. This includes an extensive service project that the Scout plans, organizes, leads, and manages.