A lifelong journey through scouting comes to a peak for 17-year-old Antonio Briones on July 24 when the Hacienda Heights youth will be awarded the Eagle Scout award, the highest honor presented to a Boy Scout. He will be the only recipient at the ceremony that will take place at St. John Vianney Church, his parish.

"He has been studying for this all his life," says mom Petra Briones about her son who has received 32 merit badges, including two Religious Catholic Medals, the Ad Altare Dei and the Pope Pius XII. "We are really proud of him."

Briones said Antonio's involvement with scouting started a new tradition in their families. "No one in either my family or my husband's has been involved in scouting," she says. "We learned about the organization along with Antonio. I have seen what wonderful things he has done because of his involvements and how he has matured."

Antonio started his "Trail to Eagle" in 1993 as a Cub Scout, while attending North Whittier Andrews Elementary School where he became a member of Pack 477. As a Cub Scout, he participated in various activities which earned him his Bobcat, Bear, Wolf and Webelos Advancements. He received his Arrow of Light Award in l998, the highest honor for a Cub Scout.

Currently a member of Troop 710 in Hacienda Heights, Antonio earned his Eagle badge this year by creating storage shelves and organizing the clothing and household items for the St. Vincent De Paul's Society located at St. John Vianney.