Des Plaines Scout is DuLullo Award winner

Little did Scott Chapp know at the time that an article written by his eighth-grade teacher would lead to his future Eagle Scout project — the solicitation, gathering, packing and shipment of $7,200 worth of school supplies and personal hygiene items to a Maasai tribe in Tanzania.

Chapp, of Troop 25 in Des Plaines, had the help of his fellow Scouts, churches and community groups, and it led to achieving his Eagle rank.

It also is the DiLullo Scholarship Award-winning project for 2011.

For the 21st year, Margaret and Mario DiLullo recently presented the $500 scholarship they established in memory of their Eagle Scout son, Joseph, who died unexpectedly in 1988.

“Every Eagle application reviewed this year by the scholarship committee was wonderful in terms of determination and dedication to community service,” said Mario DiLullo.

“It made the decision-making process very difficult. However, Scott’s name kept surfacing and we are happy to present him the scholarship for his outstanding project.”

It started four years ago at Chippewa Middle School in Des Plaines, where Chapp read an article describing the poverty, illness and high death rates experienced by the Maasai tribe in Tanzania. The article was written by one of his Chippewa School teachers, Kristin Heridott, who still teachers there.

“When it came time for me to find a worthwhile Eagle project, Mrs. Heridott’s description of the Maasai’s desperate conditions came back to me,” said Chapp.

“After researching the Internet and various charitable organizations, I decided on helping the O’Brien School For The Maasai in Africa with student supplies and hygiene items.”

Over four months, Chapp collected rulers, pens, pencils, tablets, toothbrushes and books from Des Plaines and Niles area churches, libraries and fire stations.

More than 35 boxes were packed by fellow Troop 25 Scouts in Des Plaines and shipped free by Rotary International.

Arriving by truck in April, the shipment was met by a Maasai group of Boy Scouts attending the O’Brien School, operated by the Franciscan Capuchin Sisters. The Scouts were amazed at the quantity and quality of the supplies and that the shipment was the result of one American Scout’s effort.

In gratitude, the Maasai youth sent Chapp one of their colorful native robes.

The scholarship is awarded annually to a Northwest Suburban Council Eagle Scout who has outstanding grades, a superior service project and who has been accepted as a freshman at a four-year college or university.

Chapp will soon enroll at St. Lawrence University where he will major in biochemistry.

The Northwest Suburban Council expresses its congratulations to Scott and its gratitude to the DiLullo family for its continuing support of Eagle Scouts and Scouting’s values.