Senior Ryan Van Mouwerik recently earned the right to become part of a very small group of people who can call themselves an Eagle Scout. To put this achievement in perspective, since its inception in 1911, there have been more than 130 million children and teens participating in Boy Scouts of America. Only 4% of scouts have earned the coveted rank. Ryan is one of the elite few. Van Mouwerik says, “Eagle is a big accomplishment because it epitomizes what it takes to become a better version of yourself. It shows selflessness and the ability to succeed. It takes incredible determination to want it and get it.” One of Van Mouwerik’s favorite memories was completing the “salty rat” which was a 15-hour canoe/kayak trip and witnessing one of Elon Musk’s rocket launches illuminate the sky a strange greenish-blue color. For his final Eagle project, he hand-built and donated a fence for MacArther park in La Mesa. “Scouting has made me a more well-rounded person and enhanced my social and leadership skills.”
