Recent Bridge Academy alumnus Julian Reeves ’20 and Bridge student Jared Rodriguez have both been involved in scouting since grade school. This year, they achieved something only 4% of all Boy Scouts accomplish: they became Eagle Scouts.
An Eagle Scout is the highest achievement or rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America.
Julian, a member of Troop 82 in Jackson, earned his honor in March just as the world was shutting down due to coronavirus, according to information provided by The Bridge Academy, located in Lawrence Township.
Beginning in September 2019, the Freehold resident created a plan and rebuilt the posts and railings at the Forestry Center in Jackson. He also filled the steps with dirt and cleaned up the area, according to the statement.
He graduated from The Bridge Academy in June and is now a student at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Jared, a current student at Bridge, was inducted virtually into the Eagle Scout ranks on Sept. 22. The distribution date for his project was Jan. 25, 2019. Jared is a Life Scout and instructor in Troop 33 of Ewing Township.
“Scouts has taught me many basic skills I use daily, including teamwork, knots and first aid,” he said in the statement.
The Ewing resident chose to make hygiene bags to distribute to Loaves and Fishes of the Diocese of Trenton as his Eagle Scout project. He asked parishioners, local businesses, classmates, friends, and family to donate items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, soap, combs, washcloths, and more during November 2019. He distributed the hygiene bags in January 2020.
Jared continues to be involved with scouting, according to the statement.
The Bridge Academy is an independent school for students with language-based learning disabilities, like dyslexia, auditory processing disorder and ADHD. It is the only Orton-Gillingham accredited program in New Jersey.
For more information about The Bridge Academy, call 609-844-0770 or visit www.bridgeacademynj.org.