Eagle Scouts

Three members of Boy Scout Troop 6006 in Batavia became Eagle Scouts today in a ceremony at First United Methodist Church.

Luke Geiger: Eagle Scout project was a one-mile prayer trail behind Northgate Methodist Church Batavia, that included a 12 ft wooden cross, birdhouses, and gardens on the ground with sundial, and benches. The monetary value of the project is $18,000 with 500-man hours invested.   He gave his mentor pins to each of his Cub and Boy Scout leaders Tracy and Nick Grover.  Also, a mentor pin to Steve Ognibene.

Nicholas Grover: Eagle Scout project was in the Town of Batavia at Galloway Park on Galloway Road. He designed and built a trail through a wooded area that is 8-feet wide, adding one new bench and refurbishing another bench.  He also made trail markers to mark the path. He gave his mentor pin to Steve Ognibene.

Aidan Clark: Eagle Scout project was at St. Joseph Cemetery. He refurbished seven pillars made of concrete He also cleaned, repaired, and painted the front-facing raw black iron fence on Harvester Avenue.  He gave his mentor pin to adult leader Dan Geiger and Steve Ognibene

Congressman Chris Jacobs presented congressional awards to each of the boys during the ceremony.  Assemblyman Steve Hawley was absent due to a state budget session and will present his awards at a later date.

Top photo: Luke Geiger, Nicholas Grover, Aidan Clark, take the Eagle Scout oath, administered by Eagle Scout Thomas Ognibene.

Photos by Howard Owens except bottom photo.

Photo by Steve Ognibene.  Jess Markel former scout executive, Ron Bernard Scoutmaster of Troop 6, newly Eagle Scouts Nicholas Grover, Aidan Clark, Luke Geiger, Ron Schmidt troop commissioner and Erik Volk, Eagle board of review panel.

Dylan Scroger shared his long journey to making the highest rank of Eagle Scout this past weekend at the First United Methodist Church in Batavia. This marks the third scout to achieve the highest rank this year for Troop 6006.

Sharing this day with family and friends, he thanked all who have helped him on his journey. A speech was read by Ron Schmidt, Boy Scouts commisioner, which gave a much-detailed history behind Dylan's path to Eagle:

" Dylan Scroger's path to Eagle began in this room. He was a youth member of our church, and both Mr. McAllister and I invited him to join the boys of our troop. He joined the troop in the Fall of 2007. The first merit badge he earned was fishing, which he completed on a campout held at the McAllister pond. Since then he has completed 26 more Merit Badges of which 13 were required and two were historical badges.

During his membership in Troop 6, he has held many leadership positions. He has been an assistant patrol leader, patrol leader, the assistant senior patrol leader, and served a year as the senior patrol leader, and finally he served as junior assistant scoutmaster. He currently is registered with the troop as an assistant scoutmaster. He has gone to summer camp with the troop for five years, as well as going on their High Adventure trip this past summer. He has gone with the group two times to the Cooperstown area camping.

In the summer of 2010, he attended the weeklong junior leader training held at Camp Dittmer. His performance there earned him an invitation to be on the training staff for future years, which he did. In July of 2013, Dylan chose to attend the Firstr National Jamboree to be held at the Summit Bechtel Reservation, the new permanent Jamboree site. Our council sent two troops of 36 boys each. Dylan was elected to serve as senior patrol leader for his troop. Dylan was also elected to be a candidate for membership in the Order of the Arrow, which is considered the Honor Society of Boy Scouts. He completed his Ordeal and became a member in 2013.

This past year, Dylan planned his Eagle Scout project, worked with the troop leadership and committee to get it approved, and then got the help of the boys in the troop to help him complete the project. His project involved building a kiosk for the disc golf course at Darien Lake State Park.  He used my barn and workshop for some of his construction work, and it was fun to stand there and listen to the boys as they visited will they worked. They seemed to forget I was sitting there.  There were some hitches along the way, but he completed the project as he had planned it."

Scout Commisioner Ron Schmidt (far left) pictured below received the mentor pin. Also next to him is Troop 6006 Scoutmaster Ron Bernard and Dylan's family. Lots of church supporters came to the ceremony.

Doug Gaus assistant leader for Troop 6006 introduced the Eagle Ceremony honoring Nicholas Johnson along with his parents today at the First United Methodist Church. Little did Doug know he would be receiving the Mentor Pin, earned for his help and encourgment to Nick along his trail to Eagle. This marks the troops second Eagle for 2014 and in less than 30 days from when Dennis Alton received his award.  Many prayers were made from Rev. Pamela S. Klotzbach, who led the worship mass along with friends and family who gave their best wishes to Nick before the ceremony started. (Pictured below, Nicholas Johnson)

After Nick recited the Scout Oath, he recognized his dad Tim, pictured below, and fellow scout Tyler, who was there for him as a good friend on his journey through scouting.

He spoke highly of both of them being important roles that kept him motivated and willing to succeed.

A reception followed the ceremony where more than 30 people attended to celebrate the occasion. Many scouts and leaders from the Troop attended also. Pictured below is Scoutmaster Ron Bernard, Assistant Leader Doug Gaus (who received the Mentor Pin), Nicholas, mom Lisa and dad Tim Johnson.

Boy Scout Troop 6006 had its first Eagle Ceremony of 2014 Sunday afternoon at the First United Methodist Church on Route 63, Batavia. Dennis Alton received the highest Boy Scout award he could achieve. Pictured above from left are Brian Mcallister who received the "Mentor Pin," Troop Scoutmaster Ron Bernard, Dennis and his parents.

Dennis held off his special day so brother Ken who just returned from the service in Afghanistan could be there. Pictured below are Dennis and Ken. The last photo is with his family who celebrated the event. Many scouts and assistant leaders came today to show support for Dennis.

Write-up submitted by Laurie Clarke:

On Saturday, at the Indian Falls United Methodist Church, Christopher Clarke was honored at an Eagle Court of Honor Ceremony where he was awarded the highest rank in Boy Scouting -- the rank of Eagle Scout.

Christopher was presented with several citations from President Barack Obama, the Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Sen. Charles Schumer and Rep. Kathy Hochul just to name a few. Assemblyman Stephen Hawley attended the ceremony and presented Christopher with a New York State Assembly Citation. Chris will also be receiving an American flag that was flown at the Capitol in honor of his Eagle Scout accomplishment.

In 2006 when Christopher was 8 years old he joined Troop 6066 in Indian Falls as a Cub Scout and began his journey toward becoming an Eagle Scout, a journey that would take him in many different directions. Along the way, Chris had the opportunity to visit new places, meet new people and learn many new things.

In 2010, Troop 6066 traveled to AP Hill, Va., to attend the National Boy Scout Jamboree, making many stops along the way at different historical sites.

The troop also went on numerous camping and kayaking trips including the Adirondack Mountains.

Throughout scouting Christopher was active in the community participating in Adopt-A-Highway program, planting trees for the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, ringing the bells for the Salvation Army, flag retirement ceremonies and many other community activities.

Christopher completed his Eagle Scout Project at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in Alabama. With the help of fellow Scouts, family and friends, Chris constructed a handicap accessible duck blind. The blind was built in pieces and then transported to the duck pond on the refuge where it was assembled at the end of a long dock.

Chris spent many hours researching the correct measurements and regulations for a handicapped building, locating funding for and finally putting a crew together to build and transport the blind.

Chris says “Scouts allowed me to learn many things that I would not have learned  if I had not had the opportunity to be in scouting. Boy Scouting gave me the chance to grow as a person, to be part of the community and meet many wonderful people along the way."

Jacob M. Finkney and Gabriel L. Frey were honored Wednesday by the Town of Pembroke Board with a proclamation recognizing their achievement in attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. Supervisor Ed Mileham presented the proclamations.

Photo courtesy of Town Clerk Nicole M. Begin.