Jason Vincent Vannicola, 18, was awarded Boy Scouting’s highest award of Eagle Scout during a ceremony Sept. 8 at Wheatland Church of Christ, Lawrence. Nationally, only 2 percent of Scouts attain the achievement. He is a member of Troop 55.

For his Eagle project, he designed, organized and led building and installation of benches in the gazebo at Woodlawn School.

Vannicola began his scouting career in Cub Scout Pack 3051 in 1991 and earned his Arrow of Light. He joined Boy Scout Troop 55 in 1996. He has served in these leadership positions: librarian, assistant patrol leader, patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader and crew leader.

Vannicola has earned 23 merit badges. He has earned the following awards: World Conservation, Tribe of Mic-O-Say Tom Tom Beater and Order of the Arrow Brotherhood.

He has attended Camp Naish and Camp Bartle. He has participated in high adventure trips to the Wichita Mountains in Oklahoma, Washita Mountains in Arkansas and Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.

Vannicola is a senior at Free State High School, where he is an honor roll student and in the National Honor Society.

Patrick Denning, 16, was awarded Boy Scouting’s highest award of Eagle Scout during a ceremony Sept. 29 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church. He is a member of Troop 55 of West Side Presbyterian Church.

Denning starting his scouting career in Cub Scout Pack 3055 at Sunset Hill School. He completed the Cub and Webelo programs and received the Arrow of Light in 1997.

He joined Troop 55 in 1997. His leadership positions have included quartermaster, troop historian, patrol leader, troop guide, and assistant senior patrol leader. He is a brotherhood member in the Order of the Arrow honor camping program and a warrior in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say at Bartle Scout reservation in Osceola, Mo. He earned 27 merit badges, the conservation award and the Ad Altare Dei religious award for Catholic Scouting Youth.

Denning has attended Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico for the Kanik winter program and the summer high adventure backpacking camping program.

His Eagle Scout project was to design and lead the construction of a decorative rock retaining wall around the church sign at the new Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 6001 W. 15th St.

Denning is a junior at Lawrence High School, where he is a member of the junior varsity soccer team and is an honor roll student. He has participated in the Eutin Sister City exchange program and spent six weeks in Germany this summer.

He is the son of Drs. Dale and Patricia Denning, Lawrence.

Boy Scout Troop 52, chartered to First United Methodist Church of Lawrence, had its annual canoeing campout Sept. 20-22.

The Scouts canoed the Meramec River, near Leasberg, Mo. The boys canoed a 14.6-mile stretch on Saturday and had a shore lunch during the trip. After reaching their destination, they had a barbecue.

Boys who attended were Bill Berkowitz, Jack Berkowitz, Roscoe Brixey, Damon Chandlee, Evan Cloar, Josh Cosgrove, Justin Deaver, Sam Donnell, Cameron Hershiser, Mason McCurdy, Ian O’Connor, David Ohlhausen, Andres Ramos, Henry Reiske, Todd Roberts, Matthew Rogers, Charlie Turner and Steve Wilson. Dakota Zinn, a Tiger Cub in Pack 3051, also attended.

Adults and family members who accompanied the boys were David Berkowitz, Tim Cloar, Myra Cosgrove, Pat Cosgrove, Pat Deaver, Wayne Deaver, Brian Kaslaitis, Rachael Kaslaitis, Ralena McCurdy, Austin Roberts, Charles Turner, Nancy Wilson, Jason Wingerson and Rod Zinn.