Eagle Scout Matthew J. Heiden honored by St. Mary of Huntley Knights of Columbus Council

Eagle Scout Matthew J. Heiden with St. Mary of Huntley Knights of Columbus Council Grand Knight Bill Byrne after being honored by the Knights of Columbus for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, Scouting’s highest rank.

On July 2, 2011, an Eagle Scout Court of Honor was held to award Matthew J. Heiden the rank of Eagle Scout rank, the highest advancement rank in Scouting. To earn this coveted rank, a Boy Scout must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service, and outdoor skills. As Matt proceed through Star and Life Scout Ranks and on to Eagle, he earned 23 merit badges, camped 71 nights, hiked 43 miles and had a total of 105 service hours.  He also progressed through leadership positions in the troop from Assistant Patrol Leader in 2004-2005 to Troop Guide in 2010-2011.

After achieving the rank of First Class Scout, the rank of Star, Life and Eagle require merit badges to be earned and a project be completed for each rank.  For the Star Scout Project,  Matt organized a collection drive for the Grafton Food Pantry.  Matt made six re-useable signs for his troop to use in announcing the troop Pancake Breakfast’s held each year where only the date has to be changed each year as his Life Scout Project. 

The Eagle Scout Project consisted of building a compost bin for the garden at Chesak Elelmantary School.  The compost bin will be used by the elementary school in the science curriculum when teaching composting and recycling.  In addition, the compost bin will be used by elementary school students when planting for learning purposes and the Scouts for Merit Badge work.  Apple trees were planted on each side of the bin.  Also, as part of this project, a 1-foot square worm compost bin was built for the Chesak Elementary School teachers to use as a teaching aid when covering the topic of decomposition.  

Matt has joined an elite group of Americans, including US Presidents, Astronauts, Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, Senators, Supreme Court Justices, and high ranking Military Leaders.  Statistically, out of a group of one hundred Scouts, four will reach Eagle rank.  At least one will later say that he valued his Eagle above his college degree. Many will find their future vocation through merit badge work and Scouting contacts. Seventeen of the one hundred boys will later become Scout leaders and will give leadership to thousands of additional boys.