BY KAMMIE RICHTER
DANVILLE — Vincent Drake, a senior at Schlarman High School, has been active in scouting for years. He made his way through the various ranks from Tiger Cub Scout, where his mother, Susan, was a Den Mother for him and his three brothers, to Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and most recently achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.
To achieve the rank of Eagle Scout one must earn 21 merit badges, and Vincent has earned 22.
Swimming was Drake’s favorite merit badge, as he is involved in his fourth year of swimming for Schlarman. Drake has to travel to the Danville High School pool before school to swim, and has managed to break all but two of Schlarman’s swim records.
Drake’s scouting service project involved landscaping at St. Paul’s Catholic Church and transplanting hostas, weeding and creating space for maintenance perennials.
Tim Carter has been Drake’s scoutmaster for five years. He recalls Drake as being a very capable scout when he says, “I never had to harp at Vincent about anything.” Carter then adds, “Vincent is wise beyond his years when being aware of things around him, He was very aware of issues from the political race and of how people stood.”
Richard Drake, Vincent’s father, said, “I achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in 1972, and so was allowed to take part in the Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Vincent’s ceremony, as I issued the ‘Pledge of the Eagle’ to my son.”
Drake said, “I originally became a scout because my friends were in it, I had a cousin, Cameron Hahne, who encouraged me. Once someone gets an award the others usually follow.”
Drake works at Teepak Credit Union and at McDonald’s on Vermilion Street. Drake’s future plans include attending Illinois State University or Eastern Illinois University, but he has not declared a major, although his interests lie in business and politics. He envisions a scouting future for his future family as he smiles and says, “My five sons will all be boy scouts.”
Drake adds that, “Scouting is a difficult path, but worth it, and it stays with you for the rest of your life. It puts you ahead of others in job situations because it gives you life skills such as first aid and lifesaving, and makes you a better person.”
