After years of dedication, hard work, and community service, junior Camden Chrudimsky became NDA’s latest addition to the rank of Eagle Scout.

He is a six-year veteran of the Scouts program, having joined Troop 1113 in fifth grade.

Eagle Scout, the highest rank awarded in the Scouts program, is reserved for only the most qualified Scouts.

In the Boy Scouts of America’s 100+ year history, only 4% of all Scouts have obtained the rank.

The process is lengthy and involves a meticulously-crafted service project, exemplary “Scout spirit” and leadership, earning at least 21 merit badges, and eventually a board review.

For his service project, he led a team of twelve in the construction of additional shelving for St. John the Baptist School’s reading resource room.

The goal was to create more storage, and it was a cause close to his heart.

“I had gone there K-8 and wanted to find a way to give a gift back to the school,” Chrudimsky said.

“I met with the principal and started planning the project once they said they needed some shelving replaced,” he continued.

After Christmas 2020, Chrudimsky broke ground on his project.

He started by constructing the outer frame of the shelving unit with his family.

Then, on the weekend of January 9th, Chrudimsky and his team gathered to assemble the shelving at the school.

On day one, they arrived at St. John’s, stained 1×4 wood boards, and broke down the reading resource room’s existing shelving.

The next day, the team came back, fixing the stained boards into place on the frame with a nail gun.

Their hard work paid off, and by noon, St. John’s reading resource room had a new, 18 foot shelving unit.

Chrudimsky passed his Eagle Scout review on September 14, and in recognition of his achievement, was awarded a pendant and special neckerchief for his uniform.

For him, it’s the knowledge that he accomplished his goals, not the material things, that’s the real reward.

“For me, Eagle represents all my accomplishments in Scouting during the years…,” Chrudimsky remarked.

“It is less about the award itself, but more the realization that I was able to do something only a few scouts are able to do.  It shows me how far I have come as scouting has always been a confidence booster for me.  To achieve the highest possible award helps to affirm that and push me further,” he said.

Chrudimsky may have reached the highest rank in Scouts, but he still has his eyes on the future.

“I have received both a release of stress in striving to complete this goal, being able to simply enjoy scouting, while I have the admiration and support of my family members.  I hope to be a motivation to future scouts to pursue Eagle,” he explained.

As for who will receive his “mentor pin,” the award given by newly-minted Eagle Scouts to an influential adviser in their path to Eagle rank, Chrudimsky chose troop leader Dan Holl.

“He is one of my troop leaders who has tremendously helped me along my path to Eagle, offering assistance or recommendations whenever I needed it.  He has always had the best interest of the scouts in mind,” he said.

Holl will be presented with the pin at a “Court of Honor” at a later date.