By DON STINE
Six Boy Scouts from Oakhurst Troop 71 in Ocean Township obtained their Eagle Scout honors during a special ceremony recently at the Oakhurst Firehouse.
Scouts Brendan Gifford, Dan Bauman, Max Natanagara, Nick Borgia, Erik Brockel and Nick Dawe were are recognized with scouting’s highest award.
Gifford’s Eagle project was to construct two professional-grade information signs depicting the rich history of Palaia Park in Ocean Township, an area that dates back to the early 1800’s and was used to conduct wire-less radio research by AT&T and later the US Army. Gifford has been accepted to University of New Hampshire to study Environmental Engineering.
Natanagara’s project was restoring a performance stage damaged by Hurricane Sandy at the Asbury Park-Wall Elks Lodge #128, which included installing underground electric conduits. He also refurbished a horseshoe pit area. Natangara is enrolled in Rutgers Honors Program in the Arts and Humanities. He is considering a major in political science.
Borgia’s project was to build a sidewalk for the Ocean Township Historical Society, which is housed in the old Eden Woolley House- a building that is of historical significance. He will be attending Rowan University to study bio-medical engineering.
Brockel’s project was the designing and installation of 22 Deal Lake Watershed signs. These signs cover the area where storm water flows into Deal Lake, reminding people to keep that area clean. He will attend Drexel University as a mechanical engineering major.
Dawe’s project involved the instillation of a sprinkler system on the backyard of the Elks Lodge in Neptune; installing a 30-foot electric pole; and gathering all historical information about the Elks Lodge. Dawe will be attending Rutgers and study business.
Bauman’s project was installing a stone patio in front of the infirmary at Camp Oakhurst- a local camp for disabled children. He plans on attending Villanova University to study medicine and eventually become a surgeon.
“The boys, indeed, worked very hard to become an Eagle Scout and I am proud of each and every one of them,” said Troop 71 Committee Chairman Earl H. Gifford.
Gifford said the purpose of these Eagle projects is to allow the scout to demonstrate his leadership and organizational skills in completing the project.
“It challenges the scout and the project generally will benefit some type of community or religious organization. As you can see, it is no small task and that is why only four percent of the Scouts nationally make it to Eagle,” he said.
