Seven Area Scouts Receive Eagle Scout Awards

PHILADELPHIA, PA  Seven members of Boy Scouts of America Troop 98 of Whitpain Township received Scouting’s highest honor on June 1, 2013, when each of the seven young men received his Eagle Scout award.

 In front of nearly 200 fellow Scouts, parents, family members, friends and dignitaries, each Boy Scout participated in an Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony in the First Presbyterian Church in Ambler, PA. The ceremony, considered unique due to the number of Scouts receiving the award together, highlighted the accomplishments of each Scout while recognizing the dedication, spirit and commitment shown by each on his journey to become an Eagle Scout.

Nationally, only four percent of youth who join Scouting earn this honor. The seven newest Eagle Scouts from BSA Troop 98 are:

- Seth Andrew Bakes Jr., 17, a senior at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, the son of Ginger and Seth Bakes from Chestnut Hill in Philadelphia;  

            - Troy A. Bellettirie, 19, a student at LaSalle University, the son of Dr. Gerald F. Bellettirie and Sandra A. Bellettirie of Gwynedd Valley;

            - Mack S. Finkel, 17, a student at Germantown Friends School, the son of Margaret O. Kirk and Ken Finkel of East Mt. Airy in Philadelphia;

             - C. Dakotah McClain, 17, a student at Delaware Valley Friends School, the son of Kelle J. McClain and grandson of C. Dale and Carol McClain of Worcester; 

            -  Alexander S. Okamoto, 17, a student at Germantown Friends School, the son of Tecla Borick and Karl Okamoto of Wyndmoor;

            - James D. Pogorzelski, Jr., 17, a student at Wissahickon High School, the son of Deb and James Pogorzelski of Gwynedd Valley;

            - Matthew W. Trejo, 18, a student at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, son of Elisabeth and Bob Trejo of Ambler.

During the ceremony, Scoutmaster Bob Trejo and Troop Committee Chairman Steve Elliott recognized each Scout and their families. They also praised the group collectively for not only earning hundreds of merit badges but for giving hundreds if not thousands of service hours back to their communities and for being role models to their fellow Scouts.

“The entire Troop 98 leadership team is extremely proud of these young men, each of them leaders in their own right,” said Elliott. “Scouting is one of the few programs available to today’s youth that provides real hands-on leadership opportunities and practical experiences. Scouting builds boys mentally, physically, socially and spiritually. The skills they learn in Scouting help them overcome obstacles and challenges, with courage and character, throughout their lives.” 

Added Scoutmaster Trejo, “It’s remarkable that over 100 years after its founding, and with so many activities competing for each Scout’s interest, Scouting still provides boys with a terrific opportunity to learn valuable life skills, give back to their communities and have fun”.

Also during the ceremony, each Eagle Scout received special commendations from their State Senators and Representatives. PA House of Representative Catherine M. “Kate” Harper, who represents the 61^st Legislative District in Montgomery County, attended the ceremony and personally congratulated the Scouts on their Scouting achievements and their extensive service to their communities.

In addition to participating in their troop’s regular community service projects, the seven Scouts each organized and executed an individual service project as part of the Eagle Scout requirements. These service projects included: installing a wood post and rail fence at The Peter Wentz Farmstead; removing invasive plants from a Wissahickon Watershed stream bank and replanting with indigenous plants; installing erosion-mitigating waterbars along a trail at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education; restoring headstones and graves in the Revolutionary War Cemetery at Boehm’s United Church of Christ; reconstructing the Connector Trail in Fairmount Park; creating a trail in the Wissahickon Watershed; landscaping the bank of a Prophecy Creek Park pond and replanting with indigenous species.  

In another testament to their Scouting accomplishments, six of the seven new Eagle Scouts had previously been inducted into The Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s National Honor Society that recognizes camping traditions, leadership development, and service that helps extend Scouting to America’s youth.

The BSA is considered one of the largest and most prominent youth development and service organizations in the nation. Troop 98 is a part of the Baden-Powell District in the Cradle of Liberty Council, which serves more than 17,000 young people in Philadelphia, Delaware and Montgomery counties. Troop 98 has 85 Boy Scout members and meets year-round at St. John Lutheran Church in Center Square.