When Zachary Zahora joined Cub Scouts as a first-grader, he had a mission.

"Earning Eagle was always my goal," said the current 11th-grader at Manheim Central High School. "It was important to me since Scouts has been such an important part of my life for so long."

Zachary achieved that goal when he completed his Eagle Scout project and was officially recognized at a Court of Honor ceremony held on May 3. The Eagle rank is the highest achievement a Scout can earn, and for Zachary, it marked the culmination of years of dedication, growth and commitment.

For his project, Zachary chose to give back to his faith community by constructing bookshelves for the religious education classrooms at his church, St. Richard's Catholic Church in Manheim. He began the project in the fall and completed it about a month before the ceremony. The bookshelves now serve as a practical addition to the church's classrooms, helping to organize and store religious education materials for students.

Zachary said his long involvement in Scouting has been motivated by the activities and opportunities the program provides.

"I love camping with the Scouts. Every summer my troop goes to Camp Rodney in Maryland," he shared. "My favorite memories at camp include building friendships with my fellow Scouts. I have stayed with my troop for so long because I have enjoyed the camaraderie."

He recalled several highlights over the years, including events close to home.

"Every year we have a lock-in at Scout Hall where we all play games and eat and stay up all night," he remarked. "It's a lot of fun."

Camping has been the standout experience of his Scouting journey, he added.

"My old Scoutmaster used to play music outside our campsite, and we would sit and listen to it," he recalled. "Last summer, the troop got into a fun karaoke night and stayed up late singing and having fun."

Scouting has also been a family tradition. Zachary is the son of Joe and Stephanie Zahora, who are both actively involved in supporting Troop 47.

"My dad is an Eagle Scout, and he and my mom encouraged me to begin," Zachary stated. "I would say that anyone who is uncertain about joining Scouts should give it a try."

Zachary's younger brothers, Tyler and Dylan, are also members of Troop 47, continuing the family's strong connection to the organization.

Now that he has earned the Eagle rank, Zachary reflected on the journey and shared advice for other Scouts.

"I would encourage other Scouts to go for their Eagle because it's a great accomplishment," he said. "The memories I have made through Scouting will stay with me forever. I have learned a lot through Scouting."