Sun., January 18, nearly 300 adult volunteers of the North Trail District of Circle Ten Council, Boy Scouts of America, honored 194 Boy Scouts from 38 troops, who earned their Eagle awards in 2008.  The recognition took place at the district’s annual awards banquet held at the downtown Dallas function facility, Eddie Dean’s Ranch.

Lake Highlands Eagle honorees represented Troop 435, Lake Highlands Presbyterian Church; Troop 473, Moss Haven Elementary School; Troop 707, Dallas Elk’s Lodge #71; Troop 719, St. Patrick Catholic Church; Troop 890, Lake Highlands United Methodist Church, and Crew 890, Lake Highlands United Methodist Church.

To earn the Eagle award, a Scout must complete 11 required and 10 elective merit badges, serve in various troop leadership positions, as well as plan and oversee the execution of a “significant” service project.  A boy may join Boy Scouts after the mid point of his fifth-grade year, and must complete the Eagle requirements before his 18^th birthday. 

Volunteer Tony Reynolds, Richardson, said to the 18-year-old Eagles, “Whew, you made it.  Only you know what obstacles you had to overcome to get here.”  To all the honored Eagles, he said, “I hope I will live long enough to see some of the great things you will accomplish.”

Kimberly Colonnetta, a Preston Hollow Troop 577 parent and incoming North Trail District chair, spoke for Lance Pool, the outgoing District chair who was unable to attend. “With an average of 200 hours of work on each and every Eagle Scout project, our community has received a total of 40,000 volunteer hours,” she said.  “This is the foundation of servant leadership, and these are our leaders of tomorrow.”

After focusing on the 2008 Eagle class, the program acknowledged adult volunteer efforts.

• Robert E. Little Service Award for “dedicated service, personal effort, and unselfish interest” was presented to Tim Conard, Richardson.  After his two sons earned their Eagle awards at Richardson Troop 570, he has continued to serve Scouting as a trainer for numerous Scout programs, including Wood Badge and Backcountry Advanced Training.
• Silver Beaver Award, a Scout honor first given in 1931 for “distinguished service by an adult volunteer to young people within a local Boy Scout council,” will be presented to volunteers Lynne Downs, Dallas, and Lloyd Duty and Tony Reynolds, both of Richardson at the February Circle Ten Council banquet..
• District Award of Merit, a one-time, annual Circle Ten Council honor that recognizes “noteworthy district-level service that benefited large numbers of youth or a small group over an extended period of time,” was presented to six adults.  Recipients included Ken Meaders, long-time Lake Highlands Troop 890 Assistant Scoutmaster and a volunteer of the Yanush Chapter, Mikanakawa Lodge, Order of the Arrow

Individual Cub Scout packs, Boy Scout troops, and Venture units thanked adult volunteers with the presentation of 56 Your Extraordinary Service awards.

North Trail District comprises Highland Park, University Park, Lake Highlands, North Dallas, Richardson, and one Cub Scout pack in Carrollton.  The district is part of the Circle Ten Council, Boy Scouts America, which supports youth programs in 12 counties in North Texas and south-central Oklahoma.

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