Scouting News

Eagle Scout gives back to Seaford church

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Michael Duncklee’s scouting career has spanned more than a decade, and it ended with him achieving the highest honor.

Duncklee, 18, of Seaford, officially became an Eagle Scout at a Court of Honor ceremony last Saturday at St. William the Abbot Church, where he was joined by family, friends, fellow Scouts and elected officials. The Boy Scout from Troop 690 is a 2011 graduate of St. William School, a 2015 graduate of Kellenberg High School, and just finished up his freshman year at Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

He joined Cub Scout Pack 690 in elementary school, and moved up to Boy Scouts in fifth grade, setting Eagle Scout as a goal. “It’s an exclusive club,” he said. “Not many people have done it.”

Nationally, only about 5 percent of boys who enter the Scouts earn the Eagle rank. “It feels good,” Duncklee added. “It’s a lot of hard work. It pretty much took up eight years of my life going for it.”

Boy Scouts must complete a community service project to earn their Eagle rank. Duncklee renovated the youth center in the lower level of St. William School. The project involved removing old furniture, dusting, repainting the walls and refinishing the floor.

The project took two days over a weekend last June. He had upwards of 30 volunteers helping him out. “They had a lot of work,” he said, noting that the youth center is two large rooms, with a hallway in between. “I kept them busy.”

In order to complete the project, Duncklee had to do fundraising for supplies. He held a garage sale and collected bottles and cans. He also received a donation of two large buckets of paint from Seaford Paint Place.

Billy Moulder, director of the youth center, said that the work was needed because St. William decided to start the ministry back up about a year ago. “Our youth center was in desperate need for some revamping,” he said. “It was such a blessing when Michael offered to help for his Eagle Scout project. He did a fantastic job of painting, cleaning, removing old furniture, and much more. Thanks to his great work, our youth center looks better than ever.”

Duncklee earned 31 merit badges on his path to Eagle Scout, exceeding the 21 that are required. Among his favorites were wilderness survival, shotgun shooting and swimming. He also said that when Scouts go on camping trips, they should use that opportunity to earn merit badges that can’t be completed at home.

“I definitely got something out of all the merit badges,” he said.

Duncklee is a member of the Order of the Arrow, an honor society for Boy Scouts. He enjoyed the many trips he took over the years, particularly spending time with friends and gaining good life experiences.

In high school, he was a member of the track and cross-country teams, and his junior year he set his personal best time in the mile run — 4 minutes and 49 seconds. He was a captain his senior year, and also was a member of the Chess Club.

His advice to aspiring Eagle Scouts is to avoid earning the rank too early and rushing the experience. At the same time, he said if he could go back he wouldn’t have waited until he was just two months shy of his 18th birthday to finish the requirements.