Palatine teen earns Eagle Scout rank
It is the season when you reflect on the great things that have happened during the year. Zachary Szczupaj, Palatine resident and senior at Fremd High School, earned the rank of Eagle Scout in March.
The Eagle Scout badge has become widely recognized as a mark of distinction both within and outside of Scouting. Once earned, it is worn for life. Zach has been an active Scout with Boy Scout Troop 209 since March of 2013, and has consistently held leadership roles in the troop as he worked his way through merit badges and sign offs on the trail to Eagle.
Zach's Eagle Project benefitted Stuart R. Paddock Elementary School. It consisted of a spruce up of a number of exterior areas of the school grounds. Zach led a group of Scouts, friends and family, who prepared and painted the uprights, backboards and rims of six existing basketball hoops in the playground area of this local elementary school.
Zach led his team while they prepared and repainted three benches at the entrance to the school, as well as planned and installed new landscaping and mulch around the school sign.
The final leg of Zach's project was to install a Free Little Library unit on a post in front of the school and fill it with books. The complete project beautified the school, helping it to be a more welcoming environment for children to play and learn.
Zach funded his Eagle Project by arranging donations and running a garage sale. Proceed from the garage sale paid all project costs with the intention of donating the remainder to the Arts Program at the elementary school where the project took place.
Zach was able to donate more than $400 to the Paddock Arts Program following successful completion of his project.
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