Local Scout’s Science Project Recognized with Top Award

Eagle Scout Reece O’Connor of Troop 8 in Hinsdale, IL, has been recognized with the Boy Scouts of America’s Dr. Bernard Harris SUPERNOVA Award.  The top award was presented to Reese, right, by Matthew Thornton, left, Interim Scout Executive of the Des Plaines Valley Council at a recent Council Recognition Banquet. 

The Des Plaines Valley Council, La Grange, IL, serves 42 communities in Chicago’s western and southwestern suburbs. 

Reece’s project in Alternative Energy was carried out under the Boy Scouts Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Program.  Reece is the first Scout in the Council to receive the high-level, demanding award.

The SUPERNOVA award recognizes superior achievement in the STEM fields and requires a great commitment from the Scout.  It requires earning a number of  lower level of difficulty, NOVA STEM awards, (as well as performing research, preparation, setup, coordination and organization of a high-level STEM activity or experiment, followed by analysis and reflection, and culminating in a report demonstrating superior effort and understanding of the technical topic.

Reece’s Mentor in the program, Timothy Poisson, a Boy Scout Des Plaines Valley Council volunteer, oversaw and guided his work on the science project.

Photo Credit, if needed: Gary Pitchford, Des Plaines Valley Council