CHRISTIANSTED — The Boy Scouts motto is: “Be Prepared.”
So when coronavirus happened in 2020, it didn’t prevent six St. Croix scouts from achieving the top rank of Eagle Scout.
But instead of being recognized at an Eagle Court of Honor ceremony at the Howard M. Wall Boy Scout Camp — in adapting to their new environment incorporating COVID-19 protocols — the young achievers were honored during a zoom video meeting.
To attain the rank of Eagle Scout, the candidate must earn 21 merit badges, 13 of which are specifically required. The scout must also successfully complete a community-related service project.
At the virtual ceremony held on December 19, Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. and V.I. Delegate to Congress Stacey E. Plaskett were in attendance to congratulate the six outstanding young men.
Donovan Capdeville, for his Eagle Scout service project, Donovan painted the lines, bumpers and surface signs throughout the entire parking lot of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Barren Spot, St. Croix. The previous paint was in poor condition. The new paint job allows the church parishioners to have better visibility of the parking spaces and directional signage especially at night. Likewise, the appearance of the church grounds are now greatly enhanced.
Douglas Capdeville, for his Eagle Scout service project, Douglas constructed a concrete basketball half court with new pole, with backboard and rim at the Lighthouse Mission in Times Square, St. Croix. Before this new structure was erected, the court surface was nothing more than dirt and weeds with a bent rim. The surface is now professionally painted and lined. The new court will benefit the Mission’s after school program for disadvantaged kids, and also improve the appearance of the playground area.
Gabriel Capdeville, for his Eagle Scout service project, Gabriel rebuilt the shuttered basketball court at St. Ann’s Catholic Church by installing a new concrete surface, with a new rim and backboard. The surface is now freshly painted and lined as a professional half court. The new facility will greatly benefit the active youth members/ministry of the church in a very worthwhile outdoor activity. The new court has effectively eradicated an eyesore on the church grounds.
Donovan Capdeville, Douglas Capdeville and Gabriel Capdeville are all Class of 2020 graduates of Good Hope Country Day School. The Capdeville brothers are all freshman at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. Their parents are Roxanne and Douglas Capdeville, Sr.
Kieran Walter-Sundaram, for his Eagle Scout service project, Kieran designed and created a mobile solar powered satellite communication and charging unit for The St Croix Foundation, to be used by our community after a natural disaster. He wanted to create something that was low cost, would be easily deployed, and would provide free power for phones, computers, fans, lights, and satellite phones. As a result of this working prototype, more units are planned to be constructed by The St. Croix Foundation, to be placed all around the Island in hopes of helping as many people as possible during an emergency. Kieran graduated from Good Hope Country Day School and will be attending SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design). His parents are Sonja Sundaram and Ben Walter.
Nbiko T. Bowry, for his Eagle Scout service project, Nbiko launched a public awareness campaign to advocate for annual screening for the detection, intervention, and possible prevention of cancer. In partnership with Ribbons for a Cure, Inc., a local non-profit cancer awareness and outreach organization, Nbiko created several cancer awareness banners to be erected at highly visible locations across St. Croix. The banners feature local cancer survivors and are a call to action for the community to seek regular screening to prevent cancer and/or allow for early intervention. Nbiko selected this project because cancer has impacted close members of his family, including his great grandfather, several uncles and his godmother. Nbiko is a graduate of the Good Hope Country Day School, Class of 2020 and is currently a freshman at the University of West Florida in Pensacola. His parents are Oran C. Roebuck and Nellon L. Bowry.
Phar-I Merchant, for his Eagle Scout service project, Phar-I created a cleat and shoe cleaner along with a two-foot grass-free gravel bed surrounding the AYSO soccer building in Estate Fredensborg, St. Croix. This project will benefit youth soccer players including volunteers and parents who are now able to clean their footwear after leaving the soccer field and before entering the administration building and bathrooms. Phar-I is a 2019 graduate of the St. Croix Educational Complex High School. He is currently a sophomore studying aviation at Middle Georgia State University. His parents are Shay Roberts and Phillip Merchant, Jr.
Less than four percent of all Boy Scouts in the United States achieve the honor of Eagle rank, but for the past several years, better than six percent of U.S. Virgin Islands scouts have earned the high rank each year.
With all six Eagle Scouts, they each planned their project, raised the necessary funding and executed their plans by leading fellow scouts from Troop 7227 and friends.
Troop 7227 now has 26 Eagle Scout alumni on St. Croix.