6 Berkeley Heights Scouts From Troop 68 Earn Eagle Scout Rank in 2018
Troop 68 of Berkeley Heights was established in 1934 and is considered one of the oldest Troops in the state of New Jersey. Troop 68 had the honor and privilege to recognize six young men to the rank of Eagle Scout in 2018. Troop 68 can claim 114 Eagle Scouts from its own ranks over the years. The Eagle Scout rank is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts and is only attained by a small percentage of young men who join Scouting. Past Eagle Scouts include the likes of Steven Spielberg (Film Director), Neil Armstrong (Astronaut), Michael Bloomberg (Businessman, Politician) and Gerald Ford (US President).
The Eagle rank requires the completion of a rigorous set of goals including a substantive service project, that is designed to benefit the local Community. Some projects require countless hours of effort. Below is a short summary of each young man’s “Path to Eagle”.
(above) Cole Wolfram, Nick Kwan, Tim Koubek, Doug Ladzinski, Ethan Kan, and Kyle Engemann of Troop 68 of Berkeley Heights all gained Eagle Scout status in 2018.
Kyle Engemann
Cole Wolfram
Cole’s Eagle Scout project came from his desire to conserve and serve his community, specifically the Governor Livingston High School faculty, staff and visitors. Realizing that grass clippings and other organic matter was simply being disposed of through landfills, he envisioned building a permanent composting structure on the high school grounds. All phases of the project, including blueprints, fundraising, raw material purchase, on site build and usage handbook, came together. Today the unit is used and maintained by staff at the high school. His hope is that the unit produces compost to be used to fertilize property gardens, in class projects using composted material and as a learning tool for environmental science students and club members. Cole participated in New Jersey American Legion Boys State. Cole had several leadership roles, among those were Troop Guide and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. Cole is a freshman at University of Maryland.
Doug Ladzinski
Doug’s Eagle Project was the creation of an outdoor classroom and garden in front of Governor Livingston High School in Berkeley Heights. The project consists of four picnic tables for seating, two of which are handicap accessible, and a 12 by 30 foot permeable paver eco-friendly patio. The garden contains a variety of native plants used by Environmental Sciences classes and clubs throughout the year. The garden welcomes people driving up to the school and provides a comfortable seating area for students waiting for rides at the end of the day. Doug served in several leadership positions, among them were Senior Patrol Leader and Junior Assistant Patrol Leader. Doug is a winner of the Scout Scholar Athlete award for his participation on the track team. Doug is a freshman at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Ethan Kan
Ethan’s Eagle Scout project consisted of constructing a pollinator box at William Woodruff Elementary school. The purpose of this project is to help promote the growth of the population of solitary pollinators in order to increase pollination and biodiversity of the local area. Accompanying this project was a documentary film that serves to educate the viewer about the importance of solitary pollinators. This film is accessible via QR code and its location by the elementary school serves to help raise the younger generation to be more environmentally conscious. Ethan served in several leadership roles, among them Senior Patrol Leader and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. Ethan participated in New Jersey American Legion Boys State, Ethan is a freshman at Rutgers University Honors College.
Kyle Engemann
Kyle’s project was to renovate and expand the picnic area for the Berkeley Heights Fire Department. An area of 38’ x 38’ was cleared of overgrown brush and then covered with 3” gravel layer contained by pressure treated lumber. Three heavy duty benches were built and installed, a new commercial fire pit with screen cover was built with a brick paver surrounding, and a storage box for firewood installed. It will serve as an outdoor recreation and gathering area for the fire department. Kyle served his troop as an Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. Kyle is a winner of the Scout Scholar Athlete award for his participation in soccer. Kyle is a senior at Governor Livingston High School and will be attending Virginia Tech, Pamplin College Business and Engineering School this fall.
Nick Kwan
Nick created a map and brochure of the Hometown Heroes banners program in Berkeley Heights to help honor 170 local men and women who served our country in the military. The map helps people pinpoint the locations of each of the 86 double-sided banners displayed on lampposts downtown in recognition of their service. The brochures/maps were distributed at the Mount Carmel Festival and are available on the Tapinto Berkeley Heights website. The banner program, created by the Memorial Park Renewal Committee, recognizes veterans and active military who have lived here, reside or work here, or call VFW Post 6259 their home post. Nick served in several leadership roles, among them Senior Patrol Leader and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. Nick is a winner of the Scout Scholar Athlete award for fencing. Nick is a freshman at Case Western Reserve University.
Timothy Koubek
Timothy designed, planned and organized a project to build an outdoor classroom at Thomas P. Hughes Elementary school. The classroom has four table bench units with a capacity for 24 students. It is surrounded by deer resistant plants. Leading scouts on the project clearing the area, laying wood chips, transplanting the plants, assembling, polyurethaning and placing the tables. The classroom is next to the Hughes baseball field and can also be utilized as picnic area by families watch PAL baseball games. Timothy participated in New Jersey American Legion Boys State, and was a winner of the Union County Unsung Hero award, and the Scout Scholar Athlete award for shot put. Timothy served in several leadership roles, among them Senior Patrol Leader and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. Timothy is a freshman at Fordham University.
Troop 68 offers many challenging activities for boys with varied abilities and interests. We are a family friendly, goal and service oriented Troop that meets Mondays at 7:30 p.m. at the Mary Kay McMillan School, 651 Mountain Ave in Berkeley Heights, NJ.
For further information please contact bhtroop68@gmail.com.
Submitted by Michael Higgins
