SWAMPSCOTT — Fewer than 10% of Boy Scouts nationwide achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, a distinction that represents years of leadership, service, and commitment to their communities.
Swampscott scouts Adrian LaPorte and Aiden Tat joined that select group this year and were honored Saturday during an Eagle Scout court of honor ceremony hosted by Troop 53 at the Swampscott Yacht Club.
Earning the rank of Eagle Scout requires years of dedication. Candidates must progress through the ranks of scouting, live according to the Scout Oath and Law, earn at least 21 merit badges, and complete a service project that benefits the broader community.
For his Eagle Scout project, LaPorte restored a World War I-era cannon at Swampscott Cemetery. He also researched the names of Swampscott residents who lost their lives during the war and secured funding from the Swampscott Rotary Club for a plaque commemorating them alongside the cannon.
Tat’s Eagle Scout project also focused on restoration. After the nativity stable at Saint John’s Church was destroyed in a windstorm last year, he designed and built a replacement. Drawing on his experience as captain of the Swampscott High School robotics team, Tat used computer-aided design software to create a structure that is more durable, easier to assemble, and simpler to repair than the original.
Troop 53 alum Duncan Page, who earned the Eagle Scout rank in 2019, served as master of ceremonies for the event, which featured speakers, honors, and citations from troop leaders, fellow scouts, and community leaders.
State Rep. Jenny Armini joined family members, troop leaders, and fellow scouts in celebrating the pair and presented them with citations from the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate.
“When I learned about their projects, I was struck by the fact that they both chose to care about something that mattered to others,” Armini said. “Communities are held together by people who notice what needs care, and they’re willing to step forward.”
Armini also emphasized the support systems that helped both scouts reach the milestone.
“This achievement belongs to both of you, for sure, but it also reflects the support of parents, scout leaders, mentors, friends, and a community that helps along the way,” she said.
Both new Eagle Scouts shared that sense of gratitude throughout the ceremony. They presented their mothers, Arlyssa LaPorte and Katie Tat, with necklaces and their fathers, Dave LaPorte and Peter Tat, with pins. They also honored selected mentors. LaPorte presented mentor pins to Assistant Scoutmasters Steve Hutcheon and Chuck Page. Tat also recognized Chuck Page, along with Dave LaPorte, who serves as Scoutmaster of Troop 53.
Both scouts invited community members to reflect on their journeys.
Edi Rovi, band director at Swampscott High School, spoke about LaPorte’s growth as a student and a leader.
“I’ve had the pleasure and the honor of knowing Adrian for not just one year or two, but all the way from middle school through high school,” Rovi said. “I’ve watched him grow from a little tiny kid playing saxophone into a person that’s towering over me now. … I’m just incredibly proud of everything he has accomplished.”
Hutcheon spoke on behalf of Tat and recalled what several speakers described as a “legendary” camping trip in New Hampshire during an unexpectedly cold April weekend years prior.
“It ended up being so cold that one of the adults had to sleep in the car with the heat blasting … Meanwhile, Aiden, on his first camping trip basically toughed it out in a tent, thinking and dressing like it was a mild spring day,” Hutcheon said. “From that weekend on, Aiden became one of the most reliable scouts in the troop. … We can always rely on Aiden to be there.”
Another Troop 53 alum, Charlie Page, who earned the Eagle Scout rank in 2016, led LaPorte and Tat through the Eagle Scout pledge.
After taking the pledge, both scouts reflected on what earning the rank meant to them.
“Through scouting, I learned how to lead, how to serve others, and how to push myself beyond what I thought I was capable of,” Tat said. “Looking back, earning Eagle Scout was not just about meeting the requirements or reaching the rank. It represents years of growth, challenges, friendships, and experiences that have shaped who I am today.”
LaPorte focused his remarks on gratitude, thanking troop leaders and mentors who helped shape his scouting experience, including his father, Dave LaPorte, Page, and Hutcheon.
“I have made the best memories of my life with this troop,” LaPorte said. “I want to thank a few people who have given me the best childhood I could ask for. It won’t go unrecognized.”
This fall, both scouts will carry their Eagle Scout honors into the next chapter of their lives. LaPorte plans to study history at Virginia Military Institute, while Tat plans to study mechanical engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. Their names will also be added to a plaque at Town Hall commissioned earlier this year by the Select Board to recognize Swampscott’s Eagle Scouts.
“I feel great. It’s a great opportunity,” LaPorte said after the ceremony. “This is a reflection not only of myself, but of everyone who helped me along the journey.”
