Junior Trevor Whitlow earned his title of Eagle Scout this year. Eagle Scout is the top rank of Boy Scouts.

Whitlow started Boy Scouts quite some time ago.

“I first got involved in first grade when I became a cub,” Whitlow said. “My brother was joining at the time, and my dad wanted me to join too, so I said okay, sign me up.”

Becoming an Eagle Scout is an extensive process. To achieve this top rank, boys must go through many levels of Boy Scouts beforehand, including Boy Scout, Tender Foot, Second Class, First Class, Star Life and then finally Eagle.

According to Whitlow, it is a lot of work to become an Eagle Scout, but it is worth it.

“A lot of requirements for Eagle are about skill sets and merit badges, and there’s a certain set of badges you have to get to become an Eagle,” Whitlow said, “There’s also a waiting period you have to go through to move ranks, as well as having to hold a certain amount of leadership positions, which are very important.”

One of the reasons all this work is worth it to Whitlow is because he is a third-generation Eagle Scout.

“Being an Eagle Scout is important to me because my dad is an Eagle, my brother is an Eagle, and my grandpa is an Eagle, so it was important for me to live up to that,” Whitlow said.

Before being rewarded the status of Eagle, boys have to complete a service project. Whitlow’s service project was for the Ronald McDonald House.

“For my service project I made step stools with a couple guys for the Ronald McDonald House, which is a charity that provides food, shelter, and a home for the families of children that are in dire need of medical care,” Whitlow said.

Whitlow’s mother was the one to present him with the idea of helping the Ronald McDonald House.

“My mom was watching some morning talk show and one of their representatives was on there and she told me they were in need of some help,” Whitlow said. “I called them up and they offered a tour so that I could get an idea of what they needed.”

While at the Ronald McDonald House, Whitlow saw that many of the young siblings of the hospitalized children had trouble reaching counters, cabinets, sinks and other high objects. This gave Whitlow the idea to build the step stools that he provided the Ronald McDonald House with.

Whitlow provided the Ronald McDonald House with 10 step stools.