Many attend Boy Scouts when they are young but very few persevere to achieve the ranking of Eagle Scout.

Chase Van Schoonhoven, ’04, has been a member of the Scouting Association since Cub Scouts (second grade) and has earned the rank of Eagle Scout on April 19 in a ceremony at the Clovis Community Center.

“I am really excited about finally being recognized as an Eagle Scout,” Van Schoonhoven said. “It looks good for your college applications are for job applications. I have gotten this far so I figure why quit now.”

Van Schoonhoven had to complete six requirements to become an Eagle Scout. First he had to achieve the rank of a Life Scout and be active in his troop for six months.

“After that you can’t just be in the troop you have to live by the Scout Oath and Law in you daily life and get recommendations by people who know you personally”, Van Schoonhoven said.

The third requirement was to earn a total of 21 badges in activities ranging from life saving to personal management. The fourth requirement was to lead, plan and develop personal leadership in a service project.

“I built five information boards for Habitat for Humanity,” Van Schoonhoven said. “They went in front of the community down on Jensen.”

Naming his ambitions and his plans for the future was the fifth requirement.

“In the future I plan to get an Eagle Palm which is the award above the Eagle Scout,” Van Schoonhoven said.

After completing the requirements, every Eagle Scout has to initiate and present their badges during a final ceremony.

“My ceremony is going to be in about a week,” Van Schoonhoven said. “We still have a lot of planning to do for it but I think it will turn out pretty well.”

For more information on involvement with the Scout Association, contact Van Schoonhoven or go online at www.boyscouts.com.