By Jennifer Ersalesi
Only about 5% of all Scouts ever become Eagle Scouts. Becoming an Eagle Scout is a challenging process that requires perseverance, motivation, dedication, organization, and community, and global awareness. This is Rutherford spoke with Adian Allshouse, a Rutherford resident who became an Eagle Scout in March to learn more about the process, his life as a Scout so far, and his goals for the future.
TIR: How old are you? Which grade are you going into this upcoming school year?
Adian Allshouse: I am 15 years old. I am going into my sophomore year of high school.
TIR: How long were you a Life Scout? How is being a Life Scout different from being a Boy Scout?
AA: I was a Life Scout for a little over a year and a half. As a Life Scout, I was still developing a lot of leadership skills as well as communication skills. But as an Eagle Scout, you should already have a lot of those leadership skills and the knowledge to guide and lead others.
TIR: In order to become an Eagle Scout you had to earn 21 Merit badges. Was that challenging? How long did it take?
AA: My most challenging Merit badge for me was Camping because I had to go on a camping trip in the freezing rain and snow to complete the last requirement. The merit badge I enjoyed the most was the Nuclear science merit badge because I got to learn more about radiation and a lot of interesting things. I will also be continuing to earn merit badges to earn more Eagle Palms (bronze, silver, and gold awards that are presented to Eagle Scouts who earn five, ten, or fifteen more merit badges than required to become an Eagle Scout).
TIR: To become an Eagle Scout you needed to choose and work on a specific project, what was your project?
AA: For my project, I 3D printed 1,500 ear guards for first responders and members of the Navajo Nation during a crucial time in the COVID-19 pandemic. Ear guards relieve the strain of wearing face masks. These 3D-printed ear guards, and other supplies provided by Helping Hands for the Navajo Nation, made a significant impact on the lives of those living on the reservations of Arizona.
TIR: Why did you choose this project?
AA: I had been making 3D-printed Ear guards for the Rutherford police department, EMTs, and Bergen Mask Makers. I saw this as a way I could help my community. When the Navajo Nation in Arizona hit a critical stage I saw that as an opportunity to expand my efforts and help others. This is where I connected with Terry Murphy who had started a non-profit, Helping Hands for the Navajo Nation.
TIR: What did you learn while organizing and pursuing this project?
AA: I learned a lot of things while doing my Eagle Project, but I would say the most important thing is communication. I would have meetings a few times a week with my volunteers and make sure everyone is on task and the things that need to happen are getting done. One other good life skill I learned was how to properly use a spreadsheet in order to keep all of my information and budgeting organized.
Scoutmaster Eric Makar told TIR, “Adian’s project showed maturity beyond his age with his project. He assisted people nationally by helping the Navajo Nation and we couldn’t be prouder of him.”
TIR: Tell us about the Eagle Scout ceremony that took place on August 17th where you were presented with your Eagle Scout Award and a commendation on behalf of the Mayor and Council by Councilwoman Stephanie McGowan.
AA: For my eagle ceremony I invited a few people and organizations to speak. All of the speeches and presentations were very meaningful and inspiring. Since a lot of my scouting journey has been based around my town and community it was really special to me to have a representative of the mayor come and present me with a certificate of congratulations.
TIR: Who were your mentors as you worked toward becoming an Eagle Scout?
AA: During my whole journey of completing Eagle Scout there was one person that I went to for guidance. His Name is Matt Dalzell. He walked me through every step of the way from paperwork to fundraising, to recruiting volunteers. He took my calls late at night and mentored me through my eagle scout journey. I am so grateful for all of his help and the work he did with me.
"Adian is a thoughtful, dependable, and motivated individual. This was apparent given his Eagle project-3D printing ear guards for the Navajo Nation and in his volunteer work inside and outside of scouting. Adian is a role model for other scouts because of what he continues to do, not just for earning Eagle Scout. He continues to seek new ways to help others as he continues to grow as an individual," Matt Dalzell explained.
TIR: Can you tell us about a favorite scouting memory?
AA: My favorite scouting memory was down at Florida Sea Base while we were snorkeling in the coral reefs. I had never been snorkeling in the ocean before and I got to see sharks, manta rays, huge groupers, fire coral, and a lot of ocean life. It was really a surreal experience.
TIR: Why would you encourage children to become Scouts?
AA: I encourage all boys and girls to join Scouts because it will change their lives like it has changed mine. I have learned so many more things about pioneering, the outdoors, and leadership. It encourages scouts to learn skills like teamwork and communication that they will be able to use for the rest of their lives. It promotes independence, plus it's a great way to meet new friends and visit really cool places.
TIR: Now that you are an Eagle Scout, what are your future goals with the BSA?
AA: Now that I am an Eagle Scout I will continue to stay active in my troop and hold a position in the senior leadership for the upcoming scouting year. It is important for me to continue in my troop and use the skills I have developed as an Eagle to help others.
There are a number of young men in Rutherford who have also become Eagle Scouts over the last seven months. Nicholas Valente and Vedic Patel in July, and Jason Delgado and Anthony Masullo in August earned the rank of Eagle Scout. In the next few months, the following young men will also become Eagle Scouts, Matthew Bronico, Max Zwemmer, Freddy Liller, Dasant Sharma, Andrew Chu, and Benjamin Brnic.
Adian and the other young men mentioned above are all members of Troop 166. Troop 166 is a very active Boy Scout troop in Rutherford. Since June of 2020, the Scouts have been meeting weekly and abiding by the social distancing and masking rules established within the county. Last summer, due to the pandemic, the Troop lost about 40% of its Scouts and 65 merit badges were awarded. This summer there were twenty-four rank advancements and ninety-six merit badges were awarded. Beginning in March, the Scouts were able to resume their camping trips and were able to return to Camp Nobobosco. In a few weeks, they will camp at the Citta Scout Reserve in New Jersey.
Troop 166 is active in the community. They work with a number of service organizations such as the Woman’s Club, VFW, American Legion, and Town Wide Clean-Ups. For more information about Scouting, contact Eric Makar, (917) 304-2217.
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