Neighbor News
Troop 99 Eagle Scouts Kenny Thorburn and Tyler DeKorte Complete Service Projects at Newtown Presbyterian Church
Troop 99's newest Eagle Scouts, Kenny Thorburn and Tyler DeKorte, each chose to give back to their church family.
Newtown Presbyterian Church was the beneficiary of two Eagle Scout Service Projects completed as part of the requirements for advancement to the highest rank in scouting. Troop 99’s newest Eagle Scouts, Kenny Thorburn and Tyler DeKorte, each chose to give back to their church family.
Kenny’s project is a headstone directory, mounted on a stone base, that outlines the burial plots which allows family members and researchers to locate individuals buried in the graveyard which dates back to the American Revolution. It was important to Kenny that the directory and pedestal would complement the historic setting and for it to serve the church community for many years to come. He chose the historic cemetery after volunteering with his brother Grant’s Eagle Scout Service Project during which 55 headstones were reset. The project was funded by a car wash, a GoFundMe page, and direct donations; Delaware Quarries assisted Kenny in the selection of materials and techniques appropriate to the historic nature of the site.
Along his trail to Eagle, Kenny served his troop as Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Troop Guide, Senior Patrol Leader and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. Highlights of his days in scouting include trips to Haliburton Scout Reservation in Ontario, a trek at Philmont Scout Ranch and attending 2013 National Jamboree at The Summit Scout Reserve. He also participated in the West Point Scoutmasters’ Council Invitational Camporee as a Lightfighter twice, winning the coveted sabre in 2016.
The son of Ronald and Shelda Thorburn of Newtown Township, Kenny is a 2017 graduate of Council Rock High School North. While a student there, he was a member of the Swim Team (Captain his senior year) and Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society. As a member of the congregation at Newtown Presbyterian Church he participated in 4 mission trips. Kenny will attend the Honors Program and University of Delaware in the fall and study Mechanical Engineering.
Tyler led a group of volunteers in the construction of 3 storage closets at the main church on Chancellor Street. A longtime member of the church’s youth group, Tyler recognized a need for better storage for the groups who meet in the basement area of the church. The storage closets keep the space neat and uncluttered and allow groups to store their supplies on-site between meetings while protecting them from damage and loss. His project was funded by a very successful sale of decorative luminaries.
Tyler held several positions of leadership along his trail to Eagle including Patrol Leader, Instructor and Troop Guide. Highlights of his time in scouting include two trips as a Lightfighter to the West Point Scoutmasters’ Invitational Camporee; his patrol placed third in 2014, and won first place in 2016. He traveled with his troop to Haliburton Scout Reservation in Canada and with the Bucks County Council contingent to the 2013 National Jamboree.
The son of Jamie and Sharon DeKorte of Newtown Borough, Tyler is active in his church as an usher and member of the Youth Group participating in six mission trips. He is a member of the Council Rock High School North class of 2017. While a student, he ran Cross Country and Track and was a member of the National Honor Society, Rho Kappa and Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society. He will study Business at the University of Pittsburgh in the fall.
