A pair of local teens with Boy Scout Troop 489 were recently recognized by township officials from Hillsborough for the completion of their community service projects and their attainment of the rank of Eagle Scout.
During the Aug. 14 township committee meeting, Hillsborough High School seniors Jonathan Morrone and Sawyer Quinn Obropta were presented proclamations by Mayor Gloria McCauley.
“The Hillsborough Township Committee extends our sincere congratulations to [Morrone and Obropta] for having achieved the status of Eagle Scout,” she said during the meeting. “[That rank is] an honor for both and for those who guided [them], with best wishes for a bright future.”
Morrone earned the Eagle Scout rank after successfully demolishing and replacing the Oak Springs Girl Scout Camp pavilion roof. According to officials, the youth designed the new roof in a manner that would help avoid future rotting issues.
After raising the necessary funds for materials, Morrone’s project took more than 200 hours to complete with the assistance of 25 people.
Throughout his time as a scout, Morrone has served as troop guide, patrol leader and was a Boy Scout Scholar Athlete Award winner.
As a student at the high school, Morrone is a member of the Hillsborough High School marching band, the Hillsborough High School boys’ swim team and the Hillsborough Hurricanes Summer swim team.
In his downtime, Morrone has volunteered at Visions & Pathways and pet adoption days at Rawhide Rescue.
“Jonathan serves as an example to the youth of Hillsborough Township through his high level leadership and community service,” McCauley said. “We are very proud that he is a member of our community.”
After receiving his proclamation, the youth said the project could not have been done without help.
“I want to thank my parents for helping me to coordinate and build and everything to do with my project; my troop for giving me this opportunity; and the Boy Scouts for giving me the opportunity to go on and get this award,” he said.
While Morrone’s project dealt with engineering and construction, Obropta’s project required more of a green thumb. He worked to plant native flowers, shrubs and trees at the Green Acres property in the Woods Road area.
Along with the project’s landscaping aspect, the scout’s project also consisted of building and installing a wooden bench.
In total, Obropta said the project took approximately 270 hours and included the help of 30 other Boy Scouts.
Over the years, the teen has served as senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, patrol leader and quartermaster. He has also worked as a camp counselor at BSA Camp Ockanickon and has completed more than 85 miles of hiking at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.
At the school, Obropta plays in the Hillsborough High School marching band brass and percussion ensemble.
Obropta is a second degree Black Belt in Taekwondo and volunteers at the soup kitchen through Bound Brook Presbyterian Church.
“I would just like to briefly thank the mayor and the committee alongside her for allowing me to do this project and for guiding me wherever I needed it, and all my friends and family for helping make this project possible,” he said.