To become an Eagle Scout, a boy must earn at least 21 merit badges.
Christopher Dondanville earned 35, and he plans to keep going.
The Independence Township 16-year-old was honored at an April 24 court of honor at the Oakland County Sportsmen’s Club. He is the 35th Eagle Scout in the past 38 years in Troop 185, which is cosponsored by the sportsmen’s club and Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church.
‘I’m in the top group now,? he said, recognizing that only about 4 percent of all Boy Scouts reach the top rank.
The son of John and Janet Dondanville joined the Boy Scouts of America as a Tiger Cub in September 1994. He made the jump to Boy Scouts by earning the Arrow of Light in 1999.
In Troop 185, he served in several leadership positions, including assistant patrol leader, patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader, bugler and scribe.
‘It was fun being SPL,? he said, ‘because there was a lot of involvement planning everything.?
The Eagle rank also requires a Scout to plan, organize, raise funds and supervise the completion of a major service project. Dondanville directed fellow Scouts in relandscaping a patio and adding a sun shade for retired priests at the Colombiere Jesuit Retirement Center.
The project involved 260 man-hours, and Dondanville also organized the sale of more than 180 first aid kits to raise almost $1,000 toward the project.
‘I think raising the money was harder,? he said. ‘I don’t like asking people for money.?
A junior at Notre Dame Prep in Pontiac, Dondanville has already earned honors in several areas. He is a member of the National Honor Society and the German National Honor Society. He also serves as treasurer for the school computer club.
Music is another of Dondanville’s passions. He plays trumpet in the school’s marching and symphonic bands. He is currently a member of the pit orchestra for Notre Dame’s student production of ‘Annie Get Your Gun,? and also plays in the Oakland Youth Orchestra, a county-wide, audition-only orchestra.
Dondanville is eligible to earn Eagle Palms for additional merit badges, and he plans to do so. He also enjoys ‘high adventure? Scouting trips, participating in many camping activities in different states and a 250-mile bike trip from Cumberland, Md. to Washington, D.C. Future excursions include sailing a 55-foot boat on Lake Huron this summer and a mountain hiking trip to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico next summer.
He also hopes to be an encouragement to younger Scouts (including younger brothers, Matt and Peter), saying they need to look at more than simply rank advancement.
‘If you don’t get involved in the activities, you don’t get the enjoyment out of the program,? he said.