A local Boy Scout Troop is celebrating this week, after its tenth member in one year earned the highest award the organization has to offer: Eagle Scout.
15-year-old George Tsichlis stood out with other scouts Saturday near Grant's Farm to receive his honor.
Troop 580 of Long Elementary School in Crestwood seems to be doing something right, during a time when only 4% of Boy Scouts in the nation receive this award.
Tsichlis and the other scouts spent years working toward the goal of Eagle Scout. The boys say they enjoy the scouts for more than community service and learning survival skills, they also appreciate how they've been able to create lasting friendships.
"We just know how to get along to be friends," said Tsichlis..
"And we all push each other and we all want each other to get Eagle,” said Evan Knobbe, another Eagle Scout from the same troop.
All 10 scouts earned at least 21 merit badges each and led their own community service project.
- Blake Burrus built and installed two benches at Whitecliff Park. Blake is in eighth grade at Sperreng Middle school
- Kevin Carpenter cleaned up a trail at Whitecliff Park. Kevin is a senior at Lindbergh High School.
- Garrett Greeno cleared a trail at Whitecliff Park that was 316 feet long, then lined it with logs and filled it in with mulch. Garrett is in eighth grade at Sperreng.
- Austin Hawkins built footstools for nursing mothers in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital. Austin is a senior at LHS.
- Evan Knobbe cleared at trail at the end of Morningstar Trail, which serves as an entry to Whitecliff Park for a neighboring subdivision. Evan is a sophomore at LHS.
- Dominic Lupo installed shelving at Affton Christian Food Pantry to store food for the organization. He is a senior at LHS.
- Adam Mertens built bat boxes for the City of Crestwood to combat the city's mosquito population. Adam is a former Lindbergh student who attends DeSmet High School.
- Jonny Stadter built and installed beehives in Whitecliff Park. He is a freshman at LHS.
- Erik Swenson built benches for elderly residents at AHEPA Apartments on Tesson Ferry. Erik is a senior at LHS.
- George Tsichlis cleaned up and expanded the trail at Claire Gempp Davidson Conservation Area to help make it accessible for people with disabilities. George is a sophomore at LHS.
