Ansh Vinchhi recently joined the roughly 4 percent of scouts in the country who achieve Eagle Scout ranking, the highest achievement in the program. He demonstrated that he is trustworthy, helpful, brave, kind, and all the other characteristics that scouts should exemplify, as outlined by scout laws.
The Ernest Righetti High School senior celebrated his accomplishment with his family and fellow troop members at a ceremony in September. Vinchhi is one of 21 scouts in Troop 87, based out of Santa Maria. Scoutmaster Ron Terry estimated that there have been 16 Eagle Scouts in the troop in the past eight years, a relatively high number that signals the troop’s dedication.
Become a Scout
Kids ages 11 to 18 are eligible to participate in Scouting America. To join a scouting unit, visit beascout.scouting.org. Follow Boy Scout Troop 87 on Facebook for updates. The troop is open to girls and boys.
Vinchhi became a Cub Scout in 2018 and was soon old enough to join Boy Scout Troop 87 at age 11. From there, he climbed seven rankings to become an Eagle Scout.
“I learned just kind of like how resilient I can be when I’m faced with a lot of challenges,” Vinchhi said.
Some of his favorite memories are from summer camps. He participated in three of the weeklong camps and remembered having fun shooting rifles and throwing hatchets.
“All three of them have been awesome,” Vinchhi said. “[I] met a lot of cool people from different scout troops that you wouldn’t be able to meet otherwise.”
Amid building leadership skills, making friendships, and giving back to the community, scouts dedicate time to earning merit badges, which signify proficiency in certain skills. Only 21 are required to become an Eagle Scout; Vinchhi earned 31.
In addition to certain mandatory badges like first aid and camping, scouts can choose topics they want to learn more about. Vinchhi collected badges in robotics, wood carving, and animation, among others. He said the hiking badge took the most effort because he had to complete four 10-mile hikes and one 20-mile hike.
Every Eagle Scout’s last milestone is a service project. Vinchhi decided to spruce up the OASIS Senior Center. He painted the interior offices, improved the landscaping, and built a bench for the center. He said planning the project took around two years.
Terry, a mentor to Troop 87 for the past 13 years, explained that the project is a “big deal” and must serve the greater good of the community.
“It asks a lot of leadership out of the Eagle Scout or candidate,” Terry said.
Vinchhi’s project honored his grandparents, frequent visitors of the center, who he said moved to the U.S. from India and didn’t speak much English.
“They didn’t have American friends, so the OASIS Senior Center did an amazing job of providing them with like a second home, so I wanted to show gratitude,” Vinchhi said.
Outside of scouting, Vinchhi competes in track and cross country and likes to stargaze, a passion inspired by his astronomy merit badge. After graduation he hopes to study astrophysics in college.
His advice to younger scouts is that scouting is all about the journey, not the destination.
“Sticking through it is what matters most,” Vinchhi said. “That will really teach you a lot about yourself, a lot about others, and a lot about a bunch of topics that you would never find out otherwise.”
Highlights
• The Santa Maria Valley Senior Citizens Club (SMVSCC) promotes happiness and active lifestyles for adults 50 years and older. The nonprofit offers a wide range of activities at the Elwin E. Mussell Senior Citizens Center in Santa Maria. During the week, the club holds indoor pickleball, billiards, bingo, mah-jongg, yoga, dancing, and more. SMVSCC also provides educational, health and wellness, legal, and transportation resources. The center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during weekdays. Call (805) 349-0688 or visit smvscc.org for more information.
• Applications are open for the Lompoc Valley Children’s Christmas Season Parade. Individuals, groups, and businesses are invited to apply. The application is available at cityoflompoc.com/recreation or at the Anderson Recreation Center. The deadline is Nov. 17. The parade is scheduled for Dec. 5 and will start at 6 p.m. on H Street.
Reach Staff Writer Madison White at mwhite@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Oct 2 – Oct 9, 2025.