According to Scouting, the official magazine of the Boy Scouts of America, on average, only about 5.7 percent of everyone who dons a scout uniform reaches the rank of Eagle Scout. In order to reach that pinnacle, scouts must hold the rank of Life Scout for at least six months, have earned at least 21 merit badges and must plan, develop and lead a service project. Congratulations to these nine Mt. Lebanon scouts who achieved Eagle Scout rank in 2019. Below are descriptions of a few of their service projects.

Name: Christian Polk

Address: Salem Drive

Troop: 238

Eagle Project Description: Built five boxes in Hazelwood—three stocked with food and two stocked with books, available to anyone. Food insecurity and childhood literacy were two of the issues identified by Hazelwood stakeholders in December, 2017, during a session with 1st Platoon Pittsburgh, a nonprofit focused on community revitalization
in Hazelwood.

Sustainability of the boxes will be monitored and managed by a local community food resource group, Fishes and Loaves Cooperative, the Hazelwood Initiative, Propel Schools Hazelwood, and the staff of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

Name: Garrison Guenther

Address: Orchard Drive

Troop: 284

Eagle Project Description: Designed, built and installed shelving to organize supplies and maximize the use of storage space at Jeremiah’s Place, Pittsburgh’s only crisis nursery. Jeremiah’s Place provides families of Pittsburgh and its surrounding areas with emergency child care for families.

Name: Ethan Stuart

Address: Jonquil Place

Troop: 65

Eagle Project Description: Worked with South Park to restore a constantly muddy section of the Red Loop Trail by constructing a 7-ton in-slope bench to control flooding and mud for hikers and mountain bikes.

Name: Nicholas DeLuca

Address: Lebanon Hills Drive

Troop: 238

Eagle Project Description: Built a gravel drain alongside the kiddie pool at Bower Hill Swim Club. DeLuca, a lifeguard at the pool, noticed that after heavy summer storms, mud and debris would run down the adjacent hillside and seep into the pool, making it unusable for days at a time. He came up with a plan to dig a 60-foot trench alongside the kiddie pool and install a french drain with a gravel top to allow the rainwater to seep down into the ground and flow through the drain pipe away from the pool deck.

Other Mt. Lebanon scouts who received Eagle awards in 2019:

Grant Carvender, Pinewood Drive, Troop 28

Nathan Hughes, Catalpa Place, Troop 65

Scott Jones, Woodhaven Drive, Troop 284

Samuel Kniola, Parkridge Lane, Troop 284

Christopher Luzader, Parker Drive, Troop 28

Thanks to Bob Zelleznick of the Laurel Highlands Council for compiling the list.