A pair of Boys Scouts from Troop 1100 received their Eagle Scout awards on Saturday evening, Oct. 19, at a packed Scout Hall in Riverbank.
The Eagle Court of Honor is the highest recognition attainable by a scout and must be achieved before the age of 18. Troop officials said the two young men honored on Saturday – Andres Negrete and Robert Dean Rae – are the first Eagle Scouts from Troop 1100. They have been with the troop since March 2014 and completed all requirements for the rank of Eagle Scout; both were found worthy of receiving the honor after the Eagle Scout Board of Review concluded its examination.
Eagle Scout Andres Negrete
Andres Negrete received his Eagle award from Troop 1100’s Scoutmaster, Eddie Negrete, who happens to be his father. After the award, the new Eagle Scout typically presents a pin to both of his parents. In addition to his Scoutmaster father, he pinned one on his mother, who is the troop’s Eagle Advisor, Reina Negrete.
Other awards Negrete has achieved on the road to Eagle include an Air Force Association Cyber Camp/Cyber Patriot Certificate. He served in leadership positions in his troop as Scribe, Asst. Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader and Senior Patrol Leader as well as Junior Assistant Scoutmaster.
His other scout achievements include amassing a Service Log of 140 hours, a Camping Log of 58 days and a Hiking Log of 83 miles.
Although only 21 merit badges are required for the rank of Eagle Scout, he earned many more.
Along with his Eagle badge, he received a Bronze Palm, A Gold Palm and a Silver Palm, then another Bronze Palm, for the 20 additional merit badges he completed in addition to those core requirements.
Negrete is currently is a freshman at UC Santa Cruz majoring in Computer Science Engineering with a focus in Artificial Intelligence and Cyber-Security. He developed a computer science background through Enochs High School (Modesto) courses and a Bay Valley Technology Internship.
After the award presentations, each Eagle Scout was asked to comment for the audience. He said he is grateful for his mentors, educators, family, friends and the community for all of their support.
Eagle Scout Robert Dean Rae
Robert Dean Rae was presented his Eagle by Troop 1100 Asst. Scoutmaster Mary Lou Chacon, and was accompanied by his father, Robert Rae, and mother, Tonya Canada-Rae.
He served his troop in leadership positions along the way to his Eagle award: Troop Webmaster, Asst. Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader and Senior Patrol Leader, as well.
His required logging shows 56.5 hours of Service, 35 Days of Camping, 10 miles of Cycling, and 8.5 miles of Hiking.
Rae earned merit badges additional to those required, too, a total of 29.
He received a Bronze Palm with his Eagle, for the first five additional over the 21 required.
A Riverbank High School alum, Rae currently works in various positions in construction and has plans to become a Diesel Mechanic. He also expressed his gratitude to his mentors, educators, family, friends and community for all of their support.
Additional Recognition
Along with their Eagle badges and Palms, the scouts received certificates from other local, state and national organizations noting their achievements.
Riverbank Mayor Richard D. O’Brien arrived before the Court of Honor began, to present certificates to the two scouts because he had a conflicting appointment at the same time, but wanted to make sure they received their Proclamation of Recognition from the City Council.
It was the beginning of a lengthy list of awards and accolades they received during the ceremony.
They included a letter from the Office of the Governor, Gavin Newsom, a Certificate of Merit from the California State Assembly, Heath Flora’s office, a Certificate of Achievement from General David L. Goldfien, United States Air Force, Chief of Staff, and a letter from Brigadier General Edward W. Thomas, Jr., Dept. of the Air Force.
The scouts also received a Certificate of Achievement from the United States Air Force Academy and The Corps of Cadets, a Certificate of Recognition from the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, another from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
In addition, they received a Meritorious Achievement Award from the U.S. National Park Service, a Letter of Recognition from U.S. Navy Captain E.C. Doyle, Commanding officer of the Blue Angels and a Certificate of Recognition from the The National Rifle Association of America.
Troop leaders pointed out to the audience that only a few scouts achieve the rank of Eagle. They told the audience that of the few members of the community who become Scouts, only a small percentage of them actually attain the rank of Eagle.
Statistically, 52,160 Eagle Scout awards were presented in 2018, 6.5 percent of the eligible 2018 membership. Over 2.5 million Eagle Scout awards have been presented in total since 1912, when the Boy Scouts of America was founded.
Of the 21 merit badges need to attain the rank of Eagle, 13 are required.
They include Camping, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Cooking, Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving, Environmental Science or Sustainability, Family Life, First Aid, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, and Swimming, Hiking or Cycling.
An Eagle Scout must demonstrate Scout Spirit, an ideal attitude based upon the Scout Oath and Law, service, and leadership. This includes an extensive service project that the Scout plans, organizes, leads, and manages. Eagle Scouts are presented with a medal and a badge that visibly recognizes the accomplishments of the scout. Additional recognition can be earned through Eagle Palms, awarded for completing additional tenure, leadership, and merit badge requirements.
Troop 1100 is sponsored by the First Methodist Church in Riverbank, which is led by Pastor Jeff Holder.
