The Scouts of Sewickley’s Troop 243 recently honored five young men as they achieved their rank of Eagle Scout.

• Adam Boone, son of Robert and Elizabeth Boone and a student at Quaker Valley High School, built several outdoor benches for St. Stephen’s Church.

• Jacob Boone, son of Robert and Elizabeth Boone and a student at Quaker Valley High School, repaired and upgraded the playground at St. Stephen’s Church for their daycare and school.

• Felix Cooper, son of Corry and Gregg Cooper and student at Penn State University studying mechanical engineering, repaired and upgraded the fossil pit at Fern Hollow Nature Center to help continue to educate children about archeology.

• Ryan Steinfurth, son of Adam and Sharon Steinfurth and student at Quaker Valley High School, built a hiking trail at the Masonic Village for residents and their families to use for exercise and to enjoy the outdoors.

• Liam Welge, son of Bill and Jodie Welge and a student at Quaker Valley High School, built a hiking trail and two bridges along Scaife Road in Simmon’s Woods (managed by the Allegheny Land Trust for public use), as well as removed an invasive species of plants as identified by the Trust.

Since first awarded in 1912, only about four percent of Scouts have achieved this ranking. To do so, a Scout must not only display citizenship for the community, leadership and outdoor abilities, but must also earn 21 merit badges, 12 of which are required: first aid, camping, citizenship in the community, citizenship in the nation, citizenship in the world, personal management, personal fitness, swimming or hiking or cycling, communications, family life, emergency preparedness or lifesaving and environmental science.

The Scout must also plan and implement a service project to benefit the community.

And once all of these steps are complete, each Scout had to undergo a rigorous board of review with his district, council and troop leaders to evaluate his “attitude and practice of the ideals of Scouting.”

All of these steps need to be accomplished before the Scout’s 18th birthday.

Of special note, each of these five Scouts has participated in each of the summer camps and High Adventure trips offered by the Troop every year.

In addition, Liam Welge has set the goal of earning every merit badge (135 total) – to date he has earned 103.

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