HERALD DEMOCRAT

Their numbers are fewer eagles than many of the world's other wildlife species, yet they remain at the top of the wildlife hierarchy in many ways. They have a wing span ranging of about 72 to 90 inches, and can soar up to 10,000 feet in the air at speeds of 30 to 35 miles per hour. Their physical strength enables them to survive for decades in the wild.

They are family-oriented, mating for life and sharing in the parental duties. The strength and spirit of the eagle symbolized freedom and power to the fighters of the Revolutionary War, so much so that it became the national symbol in 1782 when the great seal of the United States was adopted. It remains so to this day.

Those same traits -- strength, perserverance, dedication, family values -- are required of and found in the Boy Scouts of America's Eagle Scouts. Like the eagle in the wild, the number of Eagle Scouts is relatively low. Since Scouting created its Eagle Scout rank in 1911, records show that of the more than 100 million scouts who have participated in BSA, just over two million of them have earned Eagle status, an average of less than two percent.

In 2009, the local Texoma Valley District celebrated the success of 36 Scouts who succeeded in achieving their Eagle status. It was one of the largest Eagle Scout classes in the history of the district.

Reaching the rank of Eagle, Scouting's highest award, is an intensive process for Scouts. Requirements are strenuous: Be active in a troop, team, crew or ship for a period of at least six months after achieving the rank of Life Scout; Live daily by the principles of the Scout Oath and Law, listing individuals who will provide a recommendation of same; Earn a total of 21 merit badges, among which are first aid, citizenship in the community, the nation, and the world, communications, personal fitness, emergency preparedness or lifesaving, environmental science, personal management, swimming, hiking or cycling, camping and family life; While a Life Scout, serve actively for a period of six months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility -- assistant senior patrol leader, bugler, chaplain aide, den chief, historian, instructor, junior assistant scoutmaster, library, Order of the Arrow troop representative, patrol leader, quartermaster, scribe, senior patrol leader, troop guide or Venture patrol leader; Plan, develop and give leadership to others in a service project benefiting an organization other than Boy Scouting.

The project can help any religious institution, school of the community, and must be approved by the organization benefiting from the project, the Scoutmaster, the troop committee, and the council or district. The Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook must be used in meeting this requirement; take part in a Scoutmaster conference; and successfully complete an Eagle Scout Board of Review.

It's a difficult journey that's well worth the effort, according to those who make the trek. Three of Texoma's newest Eagles vouch for that.

Garrett Virgin, 15, is the son of Roger and Melissa Virgin and a student at Bells High School. As a young boy, Virgin joined Cub Scouts and began his Scouting career. He is now a member of Troop 605 in Denison.

"My dad was a Scout when he was younger, but never made Eagle, so he really wanted me to get Eagle. That was one of our goals together," says Garrett.

After meeting all other requirements, Garrett chose to help Bells Elementary School as his Eagle project. The school needed a 30-foot-long sidewalk from the gymnasium to the playground. Garrett, along with his family, Scouts from his troop, and other supporters and donors, completed the project.

"It turned out to be a very good project," says Garrett. "The teachers complimented me and still are."

Garrett says he has gained much from his years in Scouting and wants to continue with it.

"Getting your Eagle rank earns you a lot and gets you farther in life," says Garrett. "It will help you earn respect from other people and gives you the self-confidence to keep doing more ... I don't know about ever being a Scout leader, but I would like Scouting to take me a little farther in life ... It's been worth all the work and it's gotten me farther than I thought it would."

Aside from Scouting, Garrett says he "tries to be" a straight "A" student. He also has a second passion in life -- baseball.

"I play a lot of baseball," says Garrett. "I'd like to play baseball for A&M, but I'll play for any college that wants me!"

Trevor Hawley, 16, is a junior at Denison High School, the son of David and Kathy Hawley, and a member of Troop 611. Scouting runs in the family and Trevor is happy to continue the tradition. His father was in Scouting, as was an uncle who also made Eagle rank, as did his older brother, Austin.

When talking about his Scouting career, Trevor said, "I saw everyone else having a really great time (in Cub Scouts) and decided to join. I also wanted to learn more about being a leader, and wanted to learn to help other people ... My brother was already a Cub Scout, and I wanted to follow him."

Scouting has delivered what Trevor hoped for. "It brought a passion for helping people and doing good in the world. I want to do what I can to help out in the community, and I want to take on leadership roles."

As far as leadership, Trevor has already taken a major role as his troop's senior patrol leader. "I help guide my troop, plan the activities and everything. I think it (leadership training) will help in real life because you're going to have to know what to do and people are going to have to turn to you for help on a job. Like for manager roles, you'll have to know what you're doing and know how to help employees ... It's helped me for leadership roles in school like band because I'm taking on a leadership role there. It's given me self-confidence, made me more outgoing, and definitely boosted my confidence with leadership."

Scouting has also shaped Trevor's career ideas. "Because we teach so much stuff to the kids, it's made me want to be a teacher, probably an elementary teacher, so that I can teach them what is good and they'll grow up and turn out to be good people. I want to start them out good before they turn bad."

The Scouting program has brought other positives to Trevor. "Scouting has brought me closer to my family and given me a chance for a new family because, as members of the troop, we come pretty close to being a family."

As far as his trek to become an Eagle Scout, Trevor says, "The reason I wanted to go for Eagle was because it looks good on a resume. It's hard work, but it builds character. It's just exciting to see the look on people's faces after you've done this big project for them ... My main reason, though, was I wanted to help someone out and becoming an Eagle Scout was just one way to do that ... It was totally worth it ... Anybody who's in Scouting should try for their Eagle because there is nothing more worthwhile than achieving it."

For his Eagle project, Trevor, his family members, fellow Scouts and supporters, constructed and installed permanent, metal benches and a podium atop a hill at Loy Park in Denison. The site is often used by Trevor's church, First Christian in Denison, for sunrise services, and by other groups for various activities.

Zach Jones-Testerman, 15, is the son of Jennifer and Roy Testerman, a sophomore in Denison High School, and a member of Troop 611, sponsored by Trinity United Methodist Church. For this physically-challenged young man, Scouting has brought much-needed confidence, acceptance, and excitement.

Zach was born with a tumor in his spine. When the tumor was finally removed, it resulted in permanent, severe nerve damage to his leg. When walking, he must use a crutch for support. When going long distances, he requires a wheelchair. Though there are a few Scouting activities he is unable to fully participate in, Zach says he has found plenty to keep him busy and interested in the program, and the program has also helped him succeed at things he didn't think he'd be able to accomplish. It's also given him friendships and respect he, in the past, felt he didn't have from his peers.

"I liked collecting stuff and being outdoors, so I thought scouting would be a good connection, and it has been. I've learned to better help myself and others at the same time by using a lot of team work," says Zach. "Scouting has been very helpful in finding other ways for me to succeed (when he physically can't perform a certain required task). They've made some changes so I'm able to do certain stuff, like rock climbing and swimming.

"We did a two-man rock climb (up a vertical rock climbing wall) where somebody pulls the rope flat and makes sure you don't fall down," he said. "For me, they just have to pull a little harder than for other people and, inch-by-inch, I went all the way to the top -- three times! If was the first time I'd ever done that. I felt excited and I had adrenaline pumping through me. It made me feel good that I'd accomplished something really great. With swimming, I used to have to have some type of flotation device, but now I've gotten to where I can swim on my own."

That same determination led Zach to reach for his Eagle rank. "I thought that if I did Eagle, I'd finally do something that's probably one of the best honors of all times for me," he said. "I felt that if I did that (make Eagle), I'd be proud of myself forever!"

Zach can be proud. He completed all the Eagle requirements and his Eagle project last November. Knowing the difficulty of living with a physical disability, Zach chose to install handrails along the large, steeply-sloped parking lot of his church, Trinity UMC. Aiding the determined Scout were his parents, fellow Scouts, donors, supporters and friends such as Justin Clement.

Zach has also taken on leadership roles within his troop, serving as assistant patrol leader and wherever else he's needed. This has caused him to consider the possibility of, upon becoming an adult, having his own scout troop.

As far as a career, Zach says he plans on becoming a computer game designer, something that he'd also learned about via Scouting.

"Scouting has given me a whole bunch of self-confidence and made me think that I can finally do some things. And I do have more friends since I've joined the Scouts," says Zach. "Overall, scouting has made me feel proud of myself. Every time I got a merit badge, I felt like I'd just done something amazing!"