Zach Shaw, son of Molly and Bob Shaw of Wildwood, earned his Eagle Scout ranking on Feb. 22 and his Court of Honor was held Sunday at Beaumont Scout Reservation. He has been a member of Eureka-Wildwood Boy Scout Troop 456, dubbed "The Mountain Man Troop." Eagle Scout requirements include earning at least 21 merit badges and demonstrating Scout Spirit through the Boy Scout Oath and Law, service and leadership.

"Scouting has given me the opportunity to serve others and make a difference in my community. I have met so many people through scouting," said Zach.

"The Eagle Scout award was the culmination of my hard work and dedication over many years of scouting, and will be a lifelong remembrance of my accomplishments."

Zach is a senior at Eureka High School, who plans to attend Truman State University this fall to study computer science.

The Eagle Scout program includes an extensive service project that the Scout plans, organizes, leads and manages. For Zach's Eagle Scout special service project, he worked on the fencing and sign at the Wildwood-based Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT) arena located off of Missouri Route 109 from November 2011 through January 2012.

Zach's Scoutmaster Ron James, also a Wildwood city council member for Ward 6, told Patch that EAT's gate sign (as shown in the photo accompanying this article) was made from Zach hammering out the letters from horseshoes and then heating the wood. "EAT's owner told me they had had several Eagle Scout projects at their other location, but never one as nice as Zach's," said James.

James said Zach is a great young man who also was involved with technical support for stage productions at school, and whose father also was involved in Scout outings through the years. For example, the Shaws went on the Sea Base snorkeling and sail boat trip with the Scout group in Florida.

Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men. The title of Eagle Scout is held for life, thus giving rise to the phrase "Once an Eagle, always an Eagle".

Statistics about Eagle Scouts from the Boys Scouts of America:

• In 2010, 56,176 Scouts earned the rank of Eagle Scout.
• Around 5 percent of all Boy Scouts earned the Eagle Scout rank in 2010.
• In 2010, the average age of boys earning the Eagle Scout rank was 17 years of age.