Seven boys in troop have earned the top rank in last year
Joe DeLorenzo, Andrew Kincaid and Matt Marnell of Boy Scout Troop 186 were awarded the rank of Eagle Scout at a Court of Honor ceremony on July 14 at the Hillsborough/Manville Elks Lodge on Brooks Boulevard. U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance presented a Congressional recognition of the boys’ achievements.
Eagle is the highest of seven Boy Scout ranks and requires years of participation, service and leadership. During advancement through the ranks, boys master basic Scout skills, including camping, cooking, first aid, citizenship, personal fitness, family life, emergency preparedness and environmental science. Boys must earn at least 21 merit badges, of which 12 are required.
Earning the Eagle rank also requires demonstrating leadership by planning and executing a community service project carried out by the Scouts.
Joe’s project involved designing and implementing an erosion prevention strategy for a retaining wall alongside an in-ground pool at the Elks’ Camp Moore. The camp offers a vacation away from home for children with special needs. The Hillsborough/Manville Elks is Troop 186’s charter sponsor organization.
Andrew’s project was to make and install bee boxes to encourage the nesting of native stingless bees at the Duke Farms Community Gardens.
Matt’s project was to build mallard duck nesting tubes at Duke Farms. The tubes allow the ducks to nest safely away from predators, such as foxes.
All three of the boys graduated from Hillsborough High School last month.
In the fall, Joe will attend Rowan University to pursue dual degrees in education and history. Andrew will attend Muhlenberg College, where he will study dental medicine and play football. Matt Marnell will attend The College of New Jersey and plans to major in business management.
Nationally, only about five percent of all Boy Scouts attain the rank of Eagle. Troop 186 has had an extraordinary year with seven Scouts earning the rank since the summer of 2011. The troop, which was restarted in 1991, has helped 32 Boy Scouts earn their Eagle rank since then. For information about Troop 186, contact Alana Bird at 908-725-8714.

