Freeholders Honor Two Outstanding Eagle Scouts
Published on October 29, 2018
Representing Troops in Schooley's Mountain and Pompton Plains
The Morris County Board of Freeholders recently honored two Eagle Scouts from troops in two corners of the county --Washington Township and Pequannock -- for their ambitious scout projects that helped them attain Boy Scouting's highest honor of Eagle Scout.
Projects done by Eagle Scouts Eric Sayre of Pequannock and Alberto Garza Gomez of Schooley's Mountain included a bricks and mortar church project and one that aimed at the environment, in particular to foster the health of bats.
The projects required hundreds of hours of volunteer efforts by the scouts and their volunteer teams, and also included fundraising.
The Board of Freeholders is privileged to showcase the work done by these two young men who undertook positive and ambitious projects for the benefit of their respective communities,'' said Freeholder Director Doug Cabana.
They have set an example for all of us here in Morris County, and we greatly appreciate their dedication and hard work.
The freeholders, at their Oct. 24 meeting in Morristown, awarded county certificates of achievement to:
- Eric Sayre, Troop 144, Pompton Plains
- Alberto Garza Gomez, Troop 236, Schooley's Mountain
Each of the scouts, who received county certificates, have impressive personal resumes, featuring outstanding family, school, scouting, and personal achievements.
Check out the Facebook photo gallery of the Eagle Scouts' projects and Freeholder Board certificate ceremony.
Eagle Scout Eric Sayre with the shed he renovated.
Eric Sayre is a senior at Pequannock High School, class of 2019. He is a member of the National Honor Society, was nominated for the prestigious Boy's State, and is involved in many extracurricular activities at Pequannock High School.
For his Eagle Scout project, Eric managed a team of Scouts and volunteers in the renovation of an old structure on the grounds of his church, The Chapel, in Lincoln Park, and turn it into a very useful floored shed to house off-season equipment.
He managed a team of 20 adults and youths over a span of 146 hours, and also worked in concert with borough engineer to get required permits.
Eric said he hopes to continue to be a leader and positive contributor to his community. He plans to study mathematics in college.
Eagle Scout Alberto Garza Gomez with one of the 10 bat boxes he built and installed.
Alberto Garza Gomez is a senior at Mount Olive High School, class of 2019.
As a Scout, he attended National Youth Leadership Training, became a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow, completed treks at three of the four High Adventure bases (Philmont, Sea Base, and Northern Tier), and earned the Bronze, Gold, and Silver Eagle Palms, among many other accomplishments.
For his Eagle Scout Project, Alberto built 10 bat houses and installed them at the Land Conservancy of New Jersey site in Mount Olive.
As opposed to bird houses, bat houses are about three-feet tall, and are completely enclosed, except for the bottom. Within the house, there are walls that divide it into nearly a dozen crevices about a quarter-inch in width, where the bats nestle.
Upon graduation, Alberto plans to attend County College of Morris and then transfer to a four-year university. He also said he plans to stay active within his troop, guiding younger scouts to the success he said he could not have achieved without similar guidance.