Brick Teen's Eagle Scout Award A First For Rechartered Troop

BRICK, NJ — A Brick Township teen received his Eagle Scout award last weekend, becoming the first Eagle Scout for Troop 39 since 2014.

Brian Cody Ankney, 16, was conferred his ranking at a Court of Honor on Saturday. Cody Ankney, who joined Cub Scouts in Pack 47 as a kindergartner and was a member of Troop 47 in Herbertsville, became a founding member of Troop 39 when it was rechartered in 2014 at First Baptist Church of Laurelton in Brick.

Cody, who has earned 29 merit badges, created an information kiosk at Allaire State Park off Hurley Pond Road in Wall Township for his Eagle Scout community service project.

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"Cody utilized his leadership skills as he managed (the) project," a news release from the troop said. About 260 hours of work were devoted to the project, with a dozen fellow Scouts and leaders pitching in to complete it. Donated materials, a collection of recycled items and a Go Fundme campaign funded the construction.

Cody, whose brother Billy, 13, is a Life Scout in the troop, said the support and encouragement of his parents, Bill and Barbara, was key to achieving his Eagle Scout ranking. Bill Ankney served as his son's Cubmaster and Scoutmaster, and Cody, a member of the Order of the Arrow Japeechen Lodge, is following suit: he currently serves as a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster with the troop.

His favorite merit badges were First Aid and Lifesaving, because “they gave me the skills to help someone in a crisis,” Cody said.

Cody received his honor at the Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church with Robert Wahlers, vice president of finance for the Jersey Shore Boy Scout Council conferring the rank.

Photos by Thomas P. Costello, published with permission