The pinnacle of the Boy Scouts is achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. This is an awe-inspiring achievement, as only 6% of Scouts in BSA earn the Eagle Scout rank. Every Scout strives for this, but very few achieve it, making it even more meaningful for those who do.

“Being an Eagle Scout is a great honor. It is very hard to accomplish, and it looks very good on a resume. This is something that can help me stand out from other applicants when I apply for various things in my life,” said senior Caleb Smesko.

The process can be long and involves various requirements to be eligible to pursue the rank. The rigorous process requires merit badges, leadership positions, and a major service project. For Dennis Schaefer, that process was hands-on and involved years of commitment.

“I was in my troop for five years and had to learn practical skills along with holding leadership positions and service. The culmination was that I had to go out to the community and put forth a service project and document the whole thing, along with submitting paperwork to the council,” said Eagle Scout Dennis Schaefer, a WJ senior.

Schaefer’s project was so impactful that it caught the attention of the Akron Beacon Journal. His Eagle Scout service involved creating 400 emergency safety buckets for classrooms in the Cuyahoga Falls School District. These buckets will help to equip teachers and students with essential supplies in case of a crisis.
The trail to Eagle can be quite grueling and difficult at times. With the amount of work needed to achieve the rank, being an Eagle Scout requires time management, organization, people skills, and outdoors and survival skills. That challenge was especially real for senior AJ Stetzkorn, who balanced his project with school and sports.

Stetzkorn recently completed his Eagle Scout project by designing, building, and installing the 14 Stations of the Cross in the woods behind the Jesuit Residence. The path begins across from the prayer garden and now serves as a place of prayer and reflection for the school community. A special blessing and dedication took place on April 16, led by Fr. O’Brien, with students, staff, and AJ’s family in attendance.

“This project was especially difficult because it took a while to get all of the paperwork and details straightened out. Once the project was all set in motion and I could do the necessary work for it, then everything came together. I would say the most difficult part of getting Eagle was managing all of the work I needed to complete on top of all other work I had in school and in Track and Field,” said senior AJ Stetzkorn, who just completed his project.

Despite the difficulties, this achievement is very rewarding and one of the best awards someone of high school age can obtain. Eagle Scout is widely recognized as one of the best resume and college application boosters, and it allows people to enter the military at an advanced rank. These long-term benefits are what motivate students like Marc Verhas, who is working toward the rank now.
“The benefits of being an Eagle Scout are vast. It will provide me with various opportunities as far as a resume and future career possibilities go. The hard work was totally worth it for the things I will take away from scouting. Although I am not an Eagle Scout yet, my goal is to become one around July of this year,” said Marc Verhas, a future Eagle Scout.