Four scouts from Troop 26 earn highest rank
On February 7, John Brenton (”Brent”) Anderson, Leonardo Glazewski, Sonam Sherpa, and Tashi Sherpa were celebrated at an Eagle Scout Court of Honor held at the Williamsburg Hotel — the event’s ballroom venue was due to Toby Moskovits’s generosity.
Among those who attended were: Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso; Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez; Councilman Lincoln Restler, Evelyn Cruz, district director for U.S. Representative Nydia Velázquez; Diana Reyna, former Deputy Brooklyn Borough President; Alicja Winnicki former Superintendent, Community School District 14; and Michael Rochford, Executive Director of St. Nicks Alliance. They all joined with beaming moms and dads who were happy to see their children accomplish a long-held dream.
Officials Salute Boy Scout Achievement
“I watched these young men grow up and am so impressed was impressed with their accomplishment,” said new Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “You are true leaders you are the leaders we will look to in the future,” he said to the scouts.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzales said his own sons were scouts and he was so impressed at what they learned and how thy developed through scouting.
The boys are members of Troop 26, a scouting group that has been home to generations of Williamsburg and Greenpoint boys since its founding in 1910 — the same year scouting began in the United States. “The rank of Eagle takes years of work, requires leadership roles in the unit, and the completion of a complex Eagle Scout Leadership project. Less than 5% of all scouts achieve the rank of Eagle,” said John Bradley (“Brad”) Anderson, Troop 26 assistant scoutmaster and father of Eagle Scout Brent. “The project gives the scouts real hands-on project management experience as they tie all of the leadership and logistical skills that they have mastered as scouts into one project. The projects reflect each boy’s passion in the spirit of service and have helped make our community a better place,” Brad added.
Scout Projects Address Today’s Challenges
John Brenton (“Brent”) Anderson earned 92 merit badges on his journey to Eagle Scout. For his project he developed a series of anti-bullying seminars that were presented to sixth graders at I.S. 318. “As a victim of bullying, I decided to help [others] who were experiencing or witnessing bullying,” said Brent. “To make the presentations relatable to the students I called on friends and fellow scouts to help write, film, act, and produce the videos. …Through the films and presentation, I taught the students [how to recognize] bullying situations and how to respond both as a victim and a witness. …I hope that those students remember my lessons and become upstanders not bystanders,” he said.
Leonardo Glazewski has 50 merit badges to his credit. His leadership project was a side entryway and hallway restoration for St. John’s Lutheran Church. This church is over 130 years old and needed some work. “Part of the floor was rotted and needed to be replaced, and the entry door needed to be fixed, … the wood panels on the walls needed fixing or replacing, the wall stucco was falling off, and the ceiling needed to be replaced,” said Leonardo. He managed the budget, work schedules, and supply purchases. The work was completed by his fellow scouts and volunteer parents.
Tashi Sherpa has 28 merit badges, and his love of reading inspired his project. He worked with Home Life Services, an organization that runs Clay Family Residence and other homeless shelters, to collect books and stock their libraries. Tashi ran a series of book swaps in Transmitter Park where people could donate books to his project. “Fortunately many more people donated books rather than taking books. I was able to collect 1500 books. [This gives] children, teenagers, and adults, access to these resources,” said Tashi.
Sonam Sherpa earned 26 merit badges when he reached Eagle scout. For his project, he organized a series of three park cleanups at American Playground (at Milton and Franklin Streets) during the height of COVID-19. “I had to apply for park permits for each clean-up day. [When received] I got the word out. Made flyers, got tools and supplies, got the volunteers, engaged the community, and managed the clean-up days,” said Sonam. He coordinated these efforts with the local friends of parks groups, the NYC Parks Department, and local scout units. During the first clean up alone, the volunteers filled over 22 garbage bags with debris. The subsequent cleanups were equally successful.
Troop 1G — Scout BSA’s First Girls’ Troop in Brooklyn — Closing in on Eagle
A large number of scouts attended the event to watch their friends be recognized. Included in the group were girls active in scouting and it was noted that several were on track toward achieving Eagle.