AUGUSTA — Attaining the rank of Eagle Scout is a rare and impressive accomplishment, but in 2017, 42 young men completed the requirements for the highest rank in Scouting, surpassing 2016’s total of 37. Together those 42 Eagle Scout hopefuls led service projects to benefit their communities totaling more than 5,700 hours.

The Eagle Scout Service Project is the opportunity for a Boy Scout, Varsity Scout or qualified Venturer in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to demonstrate leadership of others while performing a significant and necessary project for the benefit of his community.

This is the culmination of the Scout’s leadership training, and it requires a tremendous effort on his part. The project must benefit an organization other than the BSA, such as a school, church or local charity, and it cannot be performed for an individual or a business or be commercial in nature.

“Those very active troops are building tomorrow’s leaders as evidenced by the large number of Eagles we are seeing come forward,” said Advancement Chairman Chuck Mahaleris. 

Wilton Troop 518’s Nick Lombardi of Jay delivered more than 60 hours of service when he led a team that put down wood chips and stone and installed a culvert to make a local trail handicapped accessible. He passed his Eagle Scout board in September and plans to attend the University of Maine at Orono as an accounting major.

“These young men are not just earning awards. They are getting things done in their community to help other people,” said Mahaleris. 

Nick Lombardi