Fountain Valley boy earns top Scout honor

Independent staff

FOUNTAIN VALLEY -- Christopher Pagel, 16, will soon join the ranks

of former President Gerald Ford, pioneering astronaut Neil Armstrong and

legendary film director Steven Spielberg as one of the top 2% of Boy

Scouts who achieve Eagle Scout Awards.

“It’s a goal I set five years ago when I joined the Boy Scouts,” the

Fountain Valley resident said. “It’s a great honor to me.”

Christopher will receive the award, the highest advancement commendation

the organization offers, at a ceremony at noon Aug. 28 at St. Bonaventure

Church in Huntington Beach.

As an Eagle Scout Award recipient, Christopher has earned 21 merit badges

and completed a community service project -- a bulletin board he built

for Mile Square Park’s nature center.

The achievement shows that a Boy Scout has put in several years of hard

work and has learned skills that are beneficial to the individual and the

community, said Richard Banes, who serves as advancement chairman in the

troop.

“It indicates a person with the highest degree of character,” Banes said.

As a member of Troop 568, Pagel has served as assistant senior patrol

leader, troop guide, scribe and chaplain aide.

As a member of the St. Bonaventure Church, he has received the Parvuli

Dei, Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII religious awards.

Christopher said he plans to stay involved in his troop.

“I will continue to achieve awards,” he said, “and help the younger

Scouts achieve this Eagle award, to help them along the way.”