5 Troy Teens Earn Eagle Scout Award

The following information was provided by Mary Hunter/Boy Scout Troop 1707.

We are proud to announce that Jared Brusca, Timothy Jacques, Robert Thomas, Matthew Welc and Trevor Latshaw from Boy Scout Troop 1707 in Troy have earned the Eagle Scout Award – the highest award in Scouting. They received their awards at a special Court of Honor Ceremony on Nov. 27 at Athens High School.

The coveted Eagle Scout Award is achieved by only five percent of the young men who are in the Scouting program. In achieving this award, each Scout displayed skills in areas of leadership, communications, outdoorsmanship, teaching, community and civic involvement, to name a few. Each Scout must also plan, organize and lead a community service project as part of the requirements for Eagle Scout Award.

Matthew S. Welc - Collected 697 pairs of used shoes for the non-profit Soles-4-Souls. Sorted, cleaned, repaired, disinfected, packed, then delivered them to Dave's Shoe Repair. Collected: sandals, dress shoes - men & women, sneakers, water shoes, athletic shoes, boots, slippers. Shoes will end up on the feet of people that have been stricken by poverty, or who can't participate in sport programs because they can't afford the foot wear. Goal was to collect 350-500 shoes; he collected 697 pairs.

Timothy D. Jacques - Repairing and remodeling the Athens High School Drum Line back storage room. This consisted of replacing every shelf in the drum unit, building shelving for the bass drums, making eight sets of dividers, building individual cubbies for the uniforms and for students to store their belongings, building shelving for keyboards, labeling all shelving, cleaning and organizing the entire room.

Robert B. Thomas - Designed and built two hand crafted mobile, lockable entertainment carts for the VA Hospital in Detroit. Each cart holds 425 DVDs. Recruited the AM Vets to help out with the project.

Jared C. Brusca - Held an afternoon of classical and jazz concert for the residents of the Wynwood Assisted Living. Concert featured 2-3 ensembles for the "Taking it to the Streets" project from Troy High Bands. After the concert, there was a "mix and mingle" with the performers, Scouts, helpers, and the residents. Everyone enjoyed desserts that were made by the Scouts and had a pizza party. The residents also received a stuffed animal for a gift, with the extra stuffed animals going to Clawson-Troy Elks special needs youth program.

Trevor Latshaw - Dual Troops: Trevor started in Troop 1592 - Great Lakes Council in Madison Heights, Michigan. Trevor had some problems at home and his parents sent him to Resolution Ranch, Cameron, Texas. There he achieved Eagle Scout: Team 108 - Longhorn Council, Temple, Texas in August of 2012.  He returned back home to Michigan after receiving Eagle Scout. His project was rebuilding a gazebo at the Resolution Ranch for families to visit their boys while enjoying the lake. Trevor has been through a lot and overcame all while dealing with constant pain from bad club feet surgery. As Scoutmaster Little said: “Trevor James Latshaw’s accomplishment of Eagle Scout makes him one in a million."

While special and personal recognition is important to everyone, I feel that it is extremely important to young people of this age group to recognize their accomplishments involving country, community, religious, service to others, leadership, academics, conservation, moral and ethical values, and many others.