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State Rep. Scott VanSingel (R-Grant), at left, honors Pentwater Eagle Scouts Jacob Whitford, Jake Quinn, Franklyn Adams and Stephen Boyko. Missing from the photo is Troop 1145’s fifth Eagle Scout Nathan Drechen.
Contributed photo.
Five scouts from same troop earn Eagle Scout rank.
#OceanaCountyNews #Troop1145 #EagleScouts
PENTWATER – Good-natured competition among the scouts in Troop 1145 has resulted in Eagle Scout awards for five of the troop’s 11 members.
“It was positive peer pressure,” said Rick Quinn, former leader of Troop 1145. “It wasn’t competitive in a negative way, but they all kept each other going.”
Quinn’s son, Jake Quinn, 17, a senior at Pentwater High School, earned his Eagle Scout rank June 21. Jake’s project was managing a group of volunteers to build two picnic tables and place them on the playground at Pentwater Public School. These tables will be utilized by elementary students and faculty during recess hours, high school students during lunch hour and throughout the summer by kids and adults using the school playground.
Nathan Drechen, 16, a sophomore at Pentwater High School, earned his Eagle Scout rank Nov. 1. Nathan’s project was managing a group of volunteers to build benches for his church to be used in an outdoor sitting area. Nathan is a third generation Eagle Scout. Nathan has spent his last two summers working at Gerber Scout Reservation and plans to return this summer.
Stephen Boyko, 16, a sophomore at Pentwater High School, earned his Eagle Scout rank Dec. 8. Stephen’s project was managing a group of volunteers to repair and repaint baseball dugouts at Pentwater Community School used by the high school girls softball team and various little league teams during the summer.
Franklyn Adams, 16, a sophomore at Pentwater High School, earned his Eagle Scout rank Dec. 8. Franklyn’s project was managing a group of volunteers to build and install a kayak storage rack at the public boat launch in Pentwater to be used by the community.
Jacob Whitford, 17, a senior at Pentwater High School, earned his Eagle Scout rank Dec. 15. His project was managing a group of volunteers to build and install benches at a baseball field at Foster Elementary School in Ludington to be used by a variety of little league baseball and softball teams. Jacob plans to study political science at Depaul University in Chicago this fall.
Four of the newest Eagles were honored during an Eagle Court of Honor last Saturday, March 11, at the Pentwater Friendship Center. The ceremony included the presentation of a proclamation from Gov. Rick Snyder. The awards were also singed by Senator Goeff Hansen (R-Hart) and State Rep. Scott VanSingle (R-Grant).
Nathan Drechen will have his own Eagle Scout presentation April 1.
“To have this many boys in a troop this size earn their Eagle is a major accomplishment and a testament to their dedication to taking ownership of a project and seeing it through to a successful conclusion,” said Kevin Nichols, scout executive for the President Ford Field Service Council, which is part of the Boy Scouts of America Michigan Crossroads Council. “We are very proud of these young men and know they will continue to positively impact the lives of those around them.”
Rick Quinn, who is now involved with the Eagle Scout Board of Reviews and project approvals, said his other son, Tyler, 20, also earned his Eagle rank as a member of the same troop. Tyler is a student at Michigan Technological University.
Jacob Quinn and two other members of the troop began together in cub scouts and have kept each other motivated throughout their scouting journey, Quinn said.
The parents of the scouts and the troop leadership encouraged the boys to stay on top of the work needed to complete their projects by offering a cautionary tale about scouts who procrastinated with their projects and ended up aging out before they were completed.
“None of our kids needed any significant push or drag to get their project done, because they wanted to earn their Eagle rank,” Quinn said.
Scouting was a foreign concept to Quinn until he signed his boys up for the program.
“I grew up in Fowlerville, and I don’t remember if we had a troop there,” he said. “My older son started up when a cub pack started up in Pentwater. As he got into boy scouts, I got involved.”
Quinn was offered a leadership role when the troop’s scoutmaster at the time decided to step down because his son had aged out. Quinn remained scoutmaster for nine years, and last year passed the leadership duties on.
“I enjoy scouting because of the emphasis on the outdoors and physical fitness,” he said. “Scouting makes young men very well-rounded individuals and teaches them leadership and life skills that will set them up for future success in all areas of their lives.”
Among the teaching opportunities he cites are leadership trainings that taught management skills similar to those he learned through training events that his company had him attend.
“It’s a true pleasure to see boys grow into mature and well-behaved young men who become role models for the younger scouts,” Quinn said.
At some point, Quinn said he would like to once again lead a troop.
“I still have a connection with the parents and the older scouts within the troop, and there are still three boys coming up who are very close to earning their Eagles and are very motivated. If I could help them succeed and didn’t, I’d feel guilty.”
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