Montini senior Andrew Ernat earns Eagle Scout rank

What makes an Eagle Scout?

Well, first of all you need to have a 11-year-old boy who is full of curiosity and enthusiasm. You add large cups of camping, fellowship with friends, love of being involved with theater and a supporting family. Add, over time, to this young man as he grows dashes of leadership, understanding and an attitude that puts others ahead of his needs.

Andrew Ernat, a senior at Montini Catholic High School in Lombard, is one of those young men who have earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Andrew is a member of Troop 202 from Lombard. Always enthusiastic and full of energy, he was involved with Boy Scouting from the start.

While maintaining a high grade-point average and working with the high school theater, both behind the scenes and as an actor, he took a lot of dedication to stay on the path to Eagle.

Outside of earning the required merit badges for Eagle, a Scout must organize and lead a service project to benefit the community. Andrew knew the present stage at the Lombard school was very small and difficult to work with. Andrew would like to make the stage larger so that productions could be done on a bigger scale. A Titanic scale to be exact!

Andrew took his idea to a professional architect, who was an assistant scoutmaster, to work out the details. Andrew learned about construction, planning and obtaining the materials for the project.

Fundraising from friends and members of the different theatrical groups that could now use the larger stage allowed Andrew to purchase the lumber and supplies needed to complete this project. Over several weekends, Andrew's fellow Scouts, friends and family constructed sections of movable stage that could double the existing stage area and provide an orchestra pit. It took quite a bit of planning and organizing.

Andrew is active in French Club, Drama Club, Computer Club and Math Team. He is a member of the National Honor Society and Tri-M Music Honor Society among other awards. Andrew, typically, is modest about his scoring a perfect 36 on the ACT composite test. He plans on majoring in nuclear engineering in college.

Andrew is the son of Dr. Don and Chris Ernat of Lombard.