By Quinta Goines

Douglas Topolse is making a difference at Charles Henderson High School while on his quest to achieve the highest rank in Boy Scouts of America.

Topolse, 14, will be in the ninth grade at CHHS this upcoming school year, and he is the Senior Patrol Leader of Troop 41. He’s also on a quest to earn his Eagle Scout ranking, the highest achievement in Scouting.

“The boys must show a certain degree of responsibility and knowledge in order to advance,” Scout Master Dr. David Runyon said.

One of the key requirements for advancing to the Eagle rank is completing a service project. Topolse saw a need at his high school and he chose to focus on refurbishing swing doors in the administration office at CHHS as his project.

He first settled on the idea last year, when he noticed that the doors on the center island were not hanging properly. “I thought it was a really big safety issue, especially with students, parents and teachers coming into the office,” Topolse said.

At first he was only going to repair the doors but when he thought about his project more, he decided to paint the whole island as well as the doors and hallway leading to the office. He’ll begin work on the project in July, with the help of fellow Scouts, and after the service project is complete, Topolse will apply for his Eagle rank.

Along the way, Topolse will have to complete a 90-page workbook about the specifics of his service project including pictures and go before a review board to prove he has mastered the lessons of Scouting and is worthy of advancing to the Eagle rank.

Topolse said the process to become an Eagle Scout is not easy, but he knows he can do.

“I’ve learned most of my life skills from Scouting,” he said. “In first grade, Cub Scouts taught me how to tie my shoes and I recently earned merit badges for hunting, fishing and trapping safety.”

So far Topolse has 39 merit badges and he is aiming to earn all 140 original badges by the time he is 18.

On July 25, Topolse and Runyon will join other Boy Scouts from Troop 3 in Marianna, Fla., for a road trip to Cimarron, New Mexico. The 14-day trip will take them to Philmont Boy Scout Ranch, the largest national High Adventure Base belonging to the Boy Scouts of America. There, the group will take a 70-mile, multi-day hike.

“Philmont is like a trek through the desert,” Topolse said. “It’s like a once in a lifetime thing. I’m going for the adventure and fun out in the desert.”

Topolse said he is ready for the adventure because it will give him a chance to do something he has never done before. “I anticipate we will be hiking 70 miles in total and participating in several activities and adventures along the way,” Runyon said.

Topolse and other Boy Scouts are having a car wash fundraiser at O’Reilly Auto Parts to raise money for the service project at CHHS. The fundraiser will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 13.