Of the hundreds of thousands of students involved in Scouting nationwide, only a handful achieve the title of Eagle Scout.
Stroudsburg High School is home to the Mountaineers, but scout leaders say it also has the most Eagle Scouts in a single senior class in the school’s history.
“A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, kind, friendly, polite, gentle, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.”
These 11 Eagle Scouts spent years doing community service and earning their merit badges before taking on their Eagle Scout projects. They each chose something to better the community they live in.
“I renovated our church meetinghouse, so we replaced the floors and repainted the walls,” Nicholas Trunzo of Troop 300 said.
The scouts come from several troops across Monroe County, but all share the same goal and passion for service.
“I think it shows how hard we work,” explained Gunnar Gaspar of Troop 86. “The Scouting organization is shrinking a little bit. We’re losing members every year, losing recruits, so to see all 11 scouts, all Eagle Scouts, together in one class is just awesome.”
“Most of the members of my unit, we all grew up together and have been doing this since we were 5 years old, so there are about five or six people in my unit alone who have inherited this,” Trunzo said.
In addition, two Girl Scouts in the advanced class received the highest Gold Award, earned by committing 80 hours of service to themselves.
“What I did there was raise awareness of CPR. My dad had a heart attack a few years ago and if someone hadn’t started CPR right away and saved him, he wouldn’t be here today,” said Alexis Tuttle of Troop 51005.
The Scouts say their bonds will continue to provide a foundation for success even after they stand on the stage at graduation.
“The brotherhood of scouting means that wherever you go in life, if you say, ‘Hey, I’m a Boy Scout, I’m an Eagle Scout,’ every other Eagle Scout you meet will say, ‘Me too,’ and you’ll be able to connect with them,” Gaspar explained.
Scouts told Newswatch 16 they hope this trend will continue to grow in future classes at Stroudsburg High School.
The Eagles’ Class of 2024 is as follows:
Matt Arce Troop 300 completed a project at Arlington Elementary School.
Steven Brannard Troop 84 completed a project at Creekview Park for Stowsburg Little League.
Jacob Christman Troop 300 (pending project completion) will be completing a project at the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.
Logan Decker Troop 86 completed a project at Zion United Church of Christ.
Nathan Fritz Troop 84 completed a project at First Presbyterian Church in Stroudsburg.
Gunnar Gasper Troop 86 completed a project at Hospice House in East Stroudsburg.
James Hagerty Troop 300 completed a project at Stowsburg Middle School.
Andrew Hawkes Troop 84 completed a project at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church.
Jordan Smalley Troop 300 completed a project at the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.
Jack Sasinskas Troop 86 completed a project at Ann Street Park in Stroudsburg Borough.
Nick Trunzo Troop 300 completed a project at Zion United Church of Christ.
The class of 2024 also includes Gold Award recipients:
Natalie Scott Girl Scout Troop 50622 received a Gold Award for “This Room Feeds People” at the United Methodist Church.
Alexis Tuttle of Girl Scout Troop 51005 earned her Gold Award after training people in life-saving CPR skills at Mountain Church.
