Four local scouts, members of Troop 506 in La Jolla, have recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest award available to youth members of Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America).

The four lifelong friends – Vincenzo Zoni and Nolan Hood, both 18, of Pacific Beach, and Jacob Rakov and Luka Slater, both 18, of Alpine – joined Cub Scout Pack 105 in Alpine in rural San Diego County in 2011 when they were all in first grade.

When two of the boys moved to Pacific Beach to attend Pacific Beach Middle School, the four joined Boy Scout Troop 395 in La Jolla.

Staying together was important to the boys, even if it meant a long commute for the two still living in Alpine. “It was important for us to stay together because we have built a sense of community over the years,” said Rakov of their group’s mutual bond.

To attain the rank of Eagle Scout, Rakov noted scouts are required to “learn how to be an effective leader and teacher. As you go through the ranks you slowly go from being taught (to be one) to being the one teaching.”

All four friends had to perform individual Eagle Scout projects. Discussing his, Rakov (above) said: “I built an informational board at Wright Field, an ecological preserve in Alpine that had a map on one half and a bulletin board on the other. This project meant a lot to me because I went hiking there a lot before making this project. There were no maps of the area making it very easy to get lost. I felt that this project would make one of my favorite hiking spots safer for everyone.”

Of the importance of becoming an Eagle Scout, Rakov said: “I’ve learned leadership, teaching skills, how to deal with confrontation and community service. I would encourage people who like to be challenged and enjoy the outdoors to join Scouting of America.”

Rakov’s trio of Eagle Scout friends and their projects are:

– Zoni completed his project at his church, Foothills United Methodist in La Mesa. The outdoor worship space features eight benches, a cross, and an altar, and is named in honor of his late grandmother, Diana Wright. One thing that Zoni learned from scouting that he will take with him is “to do a good turn daily.”

– Hood coordinated with his Mission Bay High School baseball program to build a memorial for the late coach Dennis Pugh as his Eagle Scout project. He led volunteer scouts to refinish 4-foot wooden honorary No. 17 numbers. They mounted them floating in a hand-stacked planter he designed. The project is central at Pugh Pavilion for sporting gatherings. Hood has said his favorite merit badge was life-saving because “he picked up skills that inspired him for lifeguard opportunities.”

– Slater teamed up with “Fresh Start Surgical Gifts” for his Eagle Scout project. They are a nonprofit that provides free surgeries for children with physical deformities. He put together 140 “comfort kits” with everything from toiletries to games and plush toys to distract them from the stress of surgery and aid in their recovery. Slater’s favorite merit badge was Aviation, which he completed during a visit to the USS Midway.