Scouting America Marlboro Troop 86 Eagle Court of Honor

On June 22, 2022, Boy Scouts of America Troop 86 of Marlboro awarded its highest honor, the Eagle Rank, to Krish Shah, making Krish its 114th Eagle Scout. Troop 86 is affiliated with Old Brick Reformed Church, located at 490 County Road 520 in Marlboro. Attaining the Eagle Rank is no small feat; it requires a great deal of dedication, commitment, hard work, and sacrifice.

Krish Shah graduated from Manalapan High School in the Science and Engineering Program and is pursuing a computer engineering major. Krish is a long-time resident of Marlboro and joined BSA in the 3rd grade as a Cub Scout in Pack 86. Even at such a young age, Krish was eager to learn new skills, enjoy activities in nature, and build lasting friendships. These were the reasons for joining the Scouts and were the very things that helped him stay in Scouting. He states, “Boy Scouts provide the right opportunities for learning life skills, excelling at adventures in the outdoors, and helping build camaraderie and friendship among peers.”

Krish was inspired to achieve Eagle Rank because of its sheer difficulty and the challenging aspect of it. Only 4% of all the boys who enter Boy Scouts of America make it to the coveted Eagle Rank. Krish comments, “I wanted to challenge myself, to build tenacity and resilience.” Along with the vigor of schoolwork and extracurricular activities, Krish also held many leadership positions at Troop 86, such as Den Chief, Knot Instructor, Scribe, and Assistant Patrol Leader.

As a Den Chief, Krish learned valuable skills in leadership. He understood the importance of effective communication, and the only way to communicate effectively was to understand the Cub Scouts and their temperament. As a Knot Instructor, he had to first master all the knots himself to teach others confidently. As a Scribe, he gained the skills of note-taking, organization, and time management. As an Assistant Patrol Leader, he ingrained the skill of teamwork by working with fellow Scouts, supporting others, being ready to help at a moment’s notice, and preparing for the unexpected by staying alert and paying attention. Krish believes that all these skills will be stepping stones to his future success. He proclaims, “I am very grateful for all the myriad experiences I am exposed to at Troop 86.”

Boy Scouts provides enormous opportunities to acquire life skills as well as opportunities for community service. Krish’s dedication to serving his community and nature is what led to his Eagle Project. Krish wanted to help improve local community parks. He contacted parks such as Big Brook Park and Thompson Park. Tracy Shiffman, Director of Volunteers at Thompson Park, located at 805 Newman Springs Road in Lincroft, reached out to Krish regarding a possible Eagle Project. She requested that all the old trail signs be removed and replaced since they were weathered and worn out.

The Eagle Project has extensive steps that require meticulous planning, paperwork, and a presentation. Once approved, there is fundraising, acquiring materials, and organizing volunteers. Like a project manager, Krish had to meticulously plan all the details of the Eagle Project. With the help of volunteers, Krish removed the old trail signs, built new ones, and installed the posts and new signs along with mile markers. The new signs are there for everyone who visits the park to enjoy. Because of Krish’s superb planning, the entire project was completed in one day. With his tenacity, he managed to create something lasting that will be enjoyed by all who visit Thompson Park for years to come.

Krish is pursuing a career in computer engineering, and he is confident that all the skills he learned, such as leadership, teaching, organization, and people skills, will help prepare him for the future, college, and beyond. “I will take all the teachings and skills from Troop 86 into my life and career. It helps prepare you to be a better you,” comments Krish. Krish also adds, “Community service has taught me how to help, how to positively impact my community, and ingrained an everlasting impression that helping others helps you better yourself in return.” The ultimate value one can add to this world is service to others.