Zak Zanella 'ranks up' to Eagle Scout
By Joseph DeWitt '23, staff writer and layout and design
Zak Zanella has officially earned his Eagle Scout Award, the highest award in the Boy Scouts of America.
The Shamokin Area senior, along with another Scout and family members, prepped and repainted the handicapped stair railing and fencing, as well as cleared out vines, at Clark’s Grove United Methodist Church, Paxinos, in October.
“It feels really refreshing to be an Eagle Scout,” Zanella stated. “It’s a great feeling inside to have achieved this big accomplishment. At the same time, it’s encouraging to know that I have experience in the real world and that I’m able to take pride in how much I’m learning and growing up.”
As part of the Eagle Scout process, Zanella had to read and complete an Eagle Scout Workbook where he had to plan and organize his project, as well as document the materials and helpers involved. Once completed, he submitted the workbook to the Boy Scouts of America Susquehanna Council in Williamsport for review. Next, he had to meet with Steve Guthrie, the head of the council, in a Zoom meeting to be interviewed about his work.
Zak Zanella, senior and current news editor for The Signal, is seen with his arms wrapped around his parents, his mother Stacy Zanella and father Peter Zanella upon earning the rank of Eagle at Reformed Baptist Church in Lewisburg.
(Photo by Rob Madara)
When Zanella has final approval, he will organize an Eagle Scout ceremony to officially receive his patch and certificate. This will most likely take place at Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church in Elysburg.
The Boy Scouts of America is an organization that “prepares young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law” according to its mission statement. The Boy Scout Law calls for Scouts to be “trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.” Zanella has been a Boy Scout for approximately 12 years.
Throughout his time as a Scout, Zanella has earned about 21 merit badges including geocaching (using a GPS for navigation), theater, personal management, automotive maintenance, and citizenship (community, national, and world), to name a few. Zanella also served as a Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) for a temporary time.
“Scouts has inspired me to grow, mature, appreciate nature, and develop teamwork skills,” Zanella said when asked how Scouts changed his life.
Zanella is the son of Peter and Stacy Zanella. His sister, Emily, is a Shamokin Area eighth grader.
When asked for advice for anyone wanting to join Scouts, Zanella responded, “Do your very best because if you're not doing your best, you're not living up to your duties on this Earth.”