Alumni’s Eagle Scout Project Benefits Noonan Academy

When Christian Kush was contemplating what to do for his Eagle Scout Project, he knew that he wanted to do something for his alma mater, Noonan Academy. “Attending Noonan had such a positive impact on me that I wanted to give back to the academy,” Christian Kush said. “At first, I was thinking about doing a display case for all their trophies. However, Mr. Dunn suggested that I look for something different. Something that would really impact the academy.” “The sacristy is a vital location at our academy. It’s where our priests get ready for Mass and can take a few moments to ask for God’s guidance. Noonan’s goal is to get as many souls as possible to heaven. Having priests who can minister to that is important and having a place where they can reflect, pray and ready themselves is vital,” Joseph Dunn, Principal of Noonan Academy commented.

Kush’s project consisted of clearing out the sacristy, organizing all the items, and cleaning them. “It was essentially a catch all, not a place for a priest to get ready for Mass.” He patched holes in the walls, repainted them, installed hanger for the kneelers and rebuilt three of them, installed an industrial garment rack, and built a countertop to extend prep space which was very limited prior. “I used pine wood that was pulled out of an old school gym to create the countertop. I had to plane, sand, glue, and stain all the planks.”

On Saturday, April 29, 2023, Chris’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor took place at Noonan so that Father Charles Becker could bless the sacristy. Troop 364 from Homewood, where Kush earned his Eagle Scout rank out of, had many scout leaders present who have known and worked with Kush for eight years. “I owe a lot to Mr. Mike McDonnell and Mr. Shawn Straney from Troop 364. They were amazing leaders and mentors who helped guide me through my scouting career.” Christian is not the only Eagle Scout from the Kush family. His grandfather, Richard and older brother Cody are both Eagle Scouts. “Being a scout in Troop 364 has helped to make Chris the person he is today. He’s going to start an internship this summer with the U.S. Forestry Service at Sulfur Ranger District in the Arapaho National Recreation Area of the Rocky Mountain region in Colorado, and that is because of what he has learned in scouting. I’m proud of what he is doing and who he is,” said Cody of his brother.

Kush was a class of 2018 graduate from Noonan Academy, class of 2022 graduate from Lincoln-Way East, and will finish off his second semester at Joliet Junior College before leaving for Colorado at the end of May. “My goal is to work for the National Parks Service, and I am hopeful that my internship this summer will help prepare me for that.” Kush mentioned that his family’s summer vacations to National Parks piqued his interest in the possibility of working in one, but it was his time at Fort Jefferson on the Dry Tortugas where he and his family camped for three days, and he was able to spend time with Park Rangers and talk with them about their jobs that really motivated him to pursue this path.