Four Belle Mead teens achieve Eagle Scout status
Steven McCormick, Kevin O’Brien, Patrick O’Brien, and James Smith, all residents of Belle Mead, were recently honored for achieving Eagle Scout status, the highest advancement rank in Boy Scouts of America.
The four Scouts were recognized for their achievements and inducted into the ranks of Eagle Scouts in a special ceremony at Montgomery United Methodist Church on Sunday, June 11. Each received a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in his honor and congratulatory letters from many local and national politicians and organizations. They will also receive proclamations from Montgomery Township.
To achieve this rank, Scouts must meet requirements in leadership, service, and outdoor skills. Each must design, lead, and complete a service project that benefits their community.
Steven McCormick is finishing his sophomore year at Montgomery high school and will graduate in 2019. For his Eagle Scout project, Steven custom built for the Manville Library a Lego table with chairs that children could sit at and build Lego creations. He also designed and built a wooden toy box so the library could expand and store more toys.
James Smith graduates from Montgomery Township High School this June. He plans to attend Rhode Island College. James completed his eagle project by running two food drives. This involved contacting local businesses and stocking and replenishing supplies for Bentley Community Services, Inc. with more than 2,000 food and household items. Bentley Community Services, Inc. is dedicated to help and provide for working families in the Central New Jersey region of communities who are struggling financially, having difficulty making ends meet.
Patrick O’Brien is a junior in Montgomery High School and will graduate in 2018. For his Eagle Service Project, Patrick collected full-size personal care items to assemble into hygiene bags for the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen. His original goal was to assemble 100 bags, but he surpassed his goal and was able to provide more than 400 hygiene bags.These personal care items are distributed to the Trenton area patrons so that they can maintain cleanliness and healthiness.
Kevin O’Brien is a freshmen at Montgomery High School. His Eagle Scout Service Project was collecting food items to assemble into meal bags for the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen. His original goal was to assemble 150 bags but he surpassed his goal and was able to provide more than 780 regular and diabetic meal bags to TASK. These bags are distributed to the Trenton area patrons when meals are not served at TASK.
Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.
Congratulations to all four: Steven, Kevin, Patrick and James – very well done! The character, determination and focus you have learned and shown by becoming Eagles will serve you well, as well as all of us, your fellow citizens.