Local parish honors four Eagle Scouts

By Paul Gerst

Four friends who started in Cub Scouts, continued to Boy Scouts and attended St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Dallas recently attained the rank of Eagle Scout. All are members of Troop 719, from the Lake Highlands neighborhood of Dallas. All became Eagle Scouts within a couple of months of each other.  

Attaining the rank of Eagle Scout is the pinnacle of a Scouting career. Becoming an Eagle Scout takes a lot of work. To achieve the rank of Eagle, Scouts must have earned a series of lower ranks; completed a large number of merit badges; held a series of leadership positions; and then plan, lead and complete a project to benefit the community or non-profit organization. All four did Eagle projects to benefit the St. Patrick’s Catholic Community. 

Three projects benefited the church and another the school.  

Andrew Kelton was the first to complete his Eagle Project. He worked with the church leadership to improve the worship space. He built a large, custom table to store items needed for mass. Now, holy items needed for mass can be stored in an appropriate environment, retrieved quicker and be enjoyed by the whole church community. Kelton is a senior at Lake Highlands High School. He is the son of Ann and Thomas Kelton of Dallas.

Daniel Lucido was next to finish his Eagle Project. He worked with the school leadership to improve the school grounds. He added green space to the school. Lucido took an unused patch of ground and turned it into a grassy lawn with tables. As a result, teachers and students can have lunch or just relax. Lucido is a senior at Jesuit High School. He is the son of Amy and Tony Lucido of Dallas.

Then, Andrew Gerst completed his Eagle Project. He worked with the leader of the music ministry to improve space allocated to the choir. He built an extra-sturdy bookcase for the choir to store music books and other heavy materials. Now, the music ministry can use a room previously used as storage. Gerst is a senior at Jesuit High School. He is the son of Heidi and Paul Gerst of Dallas.

Finally, Andrew Clay completed his Eagle Project. He worked with the director of liturgy to make the church space more conducive to worship. A large, custom-made table was built and placed in an area where it could not be seen. Now, the worship-space is more open, uncluttered and better for prayer. 

Clay is a senior at Jesuit High School. He is the son of Jennifer and David Clay of Richardson.

All four Scouts were recognized by the parish for their outstanding contributions to parish life at a special Scout Sunday mass in February. 

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