The two terms Boy

Scout and Eagle Scout

should not be confused.

Being a Boy Scout is only

the beginning of what

it takes to be an Eagle

Scout, and it takes a

lot more than rubbing

sticks together in the forest

to make fire. Not only

is it a big deal, but it is a

huge honor to become

a leader in the world of

boy scouts, known as an

Eagle Scout.

Becoming an Eagle

Scout is not just a year, or

two, or even three year

process, it takes from day one

until sometime before the

boy’s 18th birthday to achieve

the honor. Junior Nikesh Patel

is in the process of becoming

an Eagle Scout. Right now,

he is ranked at a Life Scout,

which is the last scout before

becoming an Eagle Scout.

“The different ranks are at

first you start out as a scout,

then a second class, then a

first class, then a star, then a

life, and then finally an Eagle

Scout,” Patel said.

With each rank comes a certain

amount of responsibility

and service work. Junior, Will

Conoly is also in the process

of becoming an Eagle Scout.

“Before becoming an Eagle

Scout while you are still a boy

scout, you have to get people

together to do the work of a

service project like building a

volleyball court or installing a

sprinkler system. You have to

be the one in charge of the

project to become an Eagle

Scout, and after that the project

has to be approved by

your Eagle Project counselor

and by the troop board and

then by the council which is

all of the boy scout troops, it’s

a lot of work,” Conoly said.

Because it is so much work,

not many young men make

it all the way to be an Eagle

Scout.

“Five percent of all boy

scouts become Eagle Scouts,

you can even look that up,”

Conoly said.

Along with the hard work

and dedication, come great

rewards.

“It is a big honor. If you go

into the military you start out

at a higher rank, better pay

and it is a huge deal on college

admissions, it helps a

lot,” Conoly said.

Patel explains that there

are different troops through

out each city, and each troop

holds meetings and trips.

“We go camping usually

once a month. We go to Enchanted

Rock, New Mexico;

we’ve been to the Keys and

Canada,” Patel said.

After all the tasks are achieved

and the position is finally accomplished,

a great honor is

received and with that honor

comes a lot of respect to the

term “Eagle Scout”.

Famous Eagle Scouts through history

Neil Armstrong-1st man on the moon

Dick Beyer-retired professional wrestler

Henry Aaron - Baseball player

Gordon Smith- Senator from Oregon

Rick Perry-Governor of Texas

Steven Spielberg- Director

Sam Walton - Founder, Wal-Mart

William Sessions - Former FBI director