COURT HOUSE – Ten Scouts reached the highest level of Scouting on June 21 when they were promoted to Eagle Scout in ceremonies at the First Methodist Church of Cape May Court House.
Those promoted were Joseph Campbell Jr., Ayden Conover, Austin Jenkins, Brandon Markee, Aydn Nelson, Anthony Nelson, Cody Rosensteel, Nicholas Schmidt, Liam Schoenleber and Corbin Stehman Jr. The 10 reached a rank in Scouting that only about 4% of Scouts achieve.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-2) headed up a group of dignitaries who attended the Eagle Scout Court of Honor and included Assemblyman Antwan McClellan, county Commissioner Melanie Collette, county Clerk Rita Rothberg, Middle Township Mayor Christopher Leusner and Sheriff’s Officer Andrew Raniszewski, who presented the Eagle Scouts with a special patch and a rosewood-handled knife.
The Eagle Scouts also received items of recognition from Scouting America, formerly the Boys Scouts of America, including certificates, the Eagle Scout Medal and a bolo tie with the Eagle emblem.
Eagle Scout Jenkins spoke on behalf of the new Eagle Scouts, saying, “I never thought I would make it.”
This group, he said, went through a lot of hardships to reach the level of Eagle Scout, including being forced to meet online during the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced some Scouts to wait longer to become Eagles than they normally might have.
Jenkins, for example, who began his Scouting career at age 11, is currently a freshman at Rowan University, majoring in electrical and computer engineering. He is 18, which is normally the age by which the rank of Eagle Scout must be earned.
He said his favorite parts of Scouting had been the summer camps and skills camps, where Scouts had to learn to do things on their own and earn merit badges. Jenkins said he was most proud of his Citizenship and Community badge.
He said that Scouting prepared each of them for the real world, including public speaking.
Each Eagle Scout parent received a mini-Eagle pin, pinned on by their Scout, in recognition of the support they gave while their son reached the Eagle rank.
To become an Eagle Scout, the candidate must have been a Life Scout for a minimum of six months and have demonstrated the Scout spirit. The Scout must have references and have earned a minimum of 21 merit badges; the 10 Scouts promoted all exceeded that number. Candidates must have performed various roles in the troop, such as president, patrol leader and quartermaster.
The Life Scout must have also completed an Eagle Scout project that he or she has shown leadership in completing. The project is required to benefit a religious organization, a school or the Scout’s community.
Stehman, for example, built a weatherproof donation bin for the Cape May County Animal Shelter, then filled the bin with donations he collected. Jenkins’ project is at the Cape May Court House Museum, where he paved two brick pathways at the back of the museum. His project took 300 hours to complete.
Candidates also have to appear before a board of review to get approval for advancement.
Van Drew spoke to the Scouts about “American exceptionalism,” a term coined in the early part of the 19th century to distinguish the United States from European nations. He referred to the nation’s forefathers, who pledged their lives, their treasures and their sacred honor to create the United States.
He said the Scouts, all from Troop 65 in Middle Township, showed exceptionalism in that they didn’t have to reach for the highest level of Scouting, which most Scouts do not achieve.
Van Drew presented each Eagle Scout with a “challenge coin” that he has minted for occasions such as this. The coins are prominent in the military ranks and date back to ancient Rome, and they are used to represent membership, particularly in reaching a special achievement.
He also said he would give a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives congratulating each new Eagle Scout.
After the Eagle Scout Court of Honor concluded, the group moved on to a banquet, also held at the church.
for the county animal shelter.
Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or call 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
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