Peters Twp. Student to Receive Eagle Scout Award

Christopher Matsin Laster, 17, of Peters Township has earned the Eagle Scout Award, which recognizes the highest advancement in the Boy Scouts of America.

A member of Troop 1313, chartered by St. Benedict the Abbot Catholic Church in McMurray, Christopher is a third-generation Eagle Scout. Only about 4 percent of all Boy Scouts attain the Eagle rank, according to Scoutmaster Paul Suchko and a news release.

To earn scouting's highest award, Christopher collected 34 merit badges, of which 21 were required, served as a leader in his troop and completed a major community service project, the news release states. The project included the collection and distribution of books and school supplies to newly built village schools in the most rural parts of Tanzania.

Christopher started as a Webelo and has been a Boy Scout for six years. In his troop, he has served as Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Historian and Chaplains Aide. He is also Order of the Arrow and a graduate of Twin Arrows Leadership Camp. He has been to the National Scout Jamboree in Virginia and will be going to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico this summer.

Christopher is a senior at Peters Township High School, where he is captain of the fencing team and a member of the Law & Government, Computer, Photography and Spirit clubs.

He plans on attending college to pursue a career in either medicine or engineering.