Jesuit's Eagles

Jesuit High School celebrated its more than 20 Eagle Scouts at Convocation on Monday (Feb. 28), as Eagle Scout Mike Scicchitano '01, Jesuit's Director of Student Activities, spoke to the student body about how his recognition of the value of Eagle Scouts has grown over time.

The rank of Eagle Scout was established more than 100 years ago and is achieved by less than 4% of all Boy Scouts after a lengthy process that includes, among other things: the attainment of 21 merit badges; demonstration of the ideals of scouting (such as leadership, loyalty, and helpfulness); and an extensive service project that the Eagle Scout candidate plans, develops, and leads to successful completion.

Eagle Scouts are eligible for additional college scholarships and attain professional positions of leadership at an unusually high rate, including numerous astronauts (among them the first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong), judges (such as U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer), military academy graduates, congressmen, four Nobel laureates, filmmaker Steven Spielberg, and the 38th U.S. president, Gerald Ford.

Scicchitano, who also is the Social Studies Department Head, spoke about how, as a Jesuit student who was within about a year of attaining his Eagle Scout rank, he was looking to "take the easy way out" and told his parents he was done with scouting. His parents did not let him quit, and he is thankful that he completed his service project and became an Eagle Scout. 

Congratulations to Jesuit's Eagle Scouts, and to the many Jesuit students who are close to achieving the Eagle Scout rank. After Convocation, Scicchitano and Jesuit science teacher Chris Cano, who also is an Eagle Scout, gathered with many of the Jesuit students who are Eagle Scouts for the photo on the homepage (L-R below): Cano, Peter Alessandri '17, Lucas Gatz '19, Rhett Broz ’17, Thomas Turner ’19, Michael Delano ’17, Guilson Chua ’19, Chris Merrill ’17, Eric Irani ’18, Guy Alfano ’17, Trayer Musselman ’17, Bo Gwinner ’17, Gabriel Pena ’17, Donovan Kerby ’17, Thomas Chadwick ’17, Joe Edgar ’17, Daniel Castillo ’17, Ethan Gregos ’17, Spencer Sanchez ’17, and Scicchitano.

Among the Jesuit Eagle Scouts not pictured are William Yount '17, Jack Hermes '19, Jack Allgeier '20, and Alex Hames '20. If you know of any additional current Jesuit students who are Eagle Scouts, please email communications@jesuittampa.org.