Yorkville teen achieves Eagle Scout; 1 of 5 Troop 40 Scouts to earn prestigious rank despite pandemic

Yorkville resident Calvin Guerrero of Boy Scouts of America Troop 40 Yorkville recently earned the esteemed Eagle Scout rank, the highest possible attainable honor in the BSA.

Guerrero, a student of Aurora Christian School, began his Scouting journey with Yorkville Cub Scout Pack 340, joining as a Wolf Scout, then advancing through the ranks of Bear, Webelos and finally earning the Arrow of Light rank and award before crossing over to Troop 40 in 2014. He subsequently moved up through the ranks of Scouts BSA, including Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and finally achieved Eagle on March 10, 2021.

Reaching the rank of Eagle Scout is a rigorous program that may be achieved by a youth prior to their 18th birthday who has been a Life Scout for at least six months, earned a minimum of 21 merit badges, demonstrated Scout Spirit, and an ideal attitude based upon the Scout Oath and Law, service, and leadership within their unit. Guerrero exceeded the required number of merit badges with 26 earned, netting him an additional Bronze Eagle Palm pin.

One of the capstone requirements in order to achieve the Eagle Scout rank is planning, organizing, leading and managing a service project helpful to any religious institution, school, or the local community. Guerrero's Eagle project was an extensive endeavor creating a brick walkway and patio for Chapel on the Green, the site where the Troop meets on Monday evenings.

In addition to Guerrero, four other Troop 40 Scouts have been able to move forward with earning their Eagle Scout rank in the past year, despite the coronavirus pandemic. These include Yorkville youth: Nico DeNardo, Dylan Middendorf, Darrien Nitto, and Ben Seppelfrick.

Since its inception in 1911, only four percent of Scouts nationally have earned this rank after a lengthy review process. Guerrero is the 115th Scout to earn the prestigious Eagle Scout Award since Troop 40 began in 1914.

About BSA Troop 40 Yorkville, IL

Troop 40 was organized and has been in continuous operation since the summer of 1914. The first Scoutmaster was Reverend Ernest Lee Ackiss, at the time a 26-year-old student of the Divinity School at the University of Chicago and pastor of the Yorkville Baptist Church. The Troop met at the original Yorkville Congregational Church on Saturday afternoons. Today, Troop 40 has more than 30 active Scouts and meets every Monday evening during the school year, 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Chapel on the Green. For information, visit www.yorkvilletroop40.org.