By Brian Park
Two local Boy Scouts recently earned the highest rank in the organization, Eagle Scout, for their service to the community.
Alex Davani from Troop 12 in San Juan Capistrano earned his rank after building new ADA-compliant sinks, faucets and bubblers at Lutheran Church of the Cross Church and Preschool in Laguna Woods. Davani rebuilt the old sink and faucet unit because children had difficulty reaching them to wash their hands and drink water. For his accomplishment, Davani was honored by Mayor John Taylor and the San Juan Capistrano City Council during their meeting on Tuesday, November 5.
“Alex’s project exemplifies community service. His project is relevant and long standing, and for that, I thank you and the community thanks you,” Taylor said.
Davani has been in the Boy Scouts since he was 6 years old, and although only 21 merit badges are required to earn the rank of Eagle, he has earned 74.
“I think I’ve benefitted from scouting as a whole, and I’ll use these skills as an adult,” Davani said. “I’m glad that the project has made an impact in a lot of kids’ lives now.”
JSerra Catholic High School sophomore Mark Summers, a scout in Troop 636 in Rancho Santa Margarita, will also join the highest rank of the Boy Scouts after completing his Eagle project in October. Summers, with assistance from 21 other scouts and adult volunteers, rehabilitated a section of the Round Valley Loop Trail at San Jacinto State Park by placing boulder steps to help hikers.
Davani and Summers join an elite group of scouts. In 2012, nearly 58,000 scouts earned the rank of Eagle—the highest number ever, according to the Boy Scouts of America. However, that number still only represents 7 percent of all scouts.
