PENNINGTON: Scout’s trail project lauded by school board

Eric Tengi’s trail is at the western end of the grounds of Timberlane Middle School

By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
   Eric Tengi’s Eagle Scout project is a major benefit for the school system and community at large.
   So said school board members and other school officials at Monday night’s board meeting when Eric was thanked for a trail, nearly one-third of a mile long, he developed on the western end of the grounds of Timberlane Middle School.
   ”It’s a fantastic accomplishment,” Norman Torkelson, the school district’s director of facilities, said.
   Mr. Torkelson mentored Eric on the project, which took over a year to complete.
   Eric is a senior at Hopewell Valley Central High School. He lives on Mallard Drive in Pennington and is a member of Boy Scout Troop 44. His Eagle Project included assembling a team to build the trail and supervising that team.
   ”We spent about 290 hours working on the trail,” Eric said.
   In addition to other Scouts, the workers were drawn from the school system and the community at large.
   The project includes a bench at each end of the trail. Part of the trail is new. The remainder was established by clearing vines and undergrowth from a trail that fell out of use years ago when woods were cleared to make room for new athletic fields.
   ”The trail doesn’t interfere with future expansion plans” for new fields, Mr. Torkelson said.
   Eric’s trail already is part of the course used by the high school’s cross country teams for its meets. Other school groups are using it as well along with hikers and nature walkers from the community at large.
   ”I was very impressed by Eric’s leadership skills,” Mr. Torkelson said. “He kept his team of volunteers safely on task.”
   School board President Mel Meyers and other board members thanked Eric.
   ”A great job,” board member Roy Dollard said.
   Eric also is a top student, Mr. Torkelson noted. He has a 93.4 grade average. His course load this year includes two advanced placement math courses, an advanced placement science course and honors English.
   School officials are considering putting up signs bearing his name at each end of the trail.