Verona Scout Spruces Up Sunday School Classroom for Eagle Scout Project

Boy Scout Troop 12 of Montclair honored three new Eagle Scouts at a Court of Honor held at St. James Episcopal Church earlier this month. 

The three Eagle Scouts, Tate Bowers, Gabe Umar and Austin Williams, completed their projects as juniors in high school.

In order to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, the scout has to earn 21 merit badges, advance through several ranks in his troop, and complete a community service leadership project. These requirements must be completed before the scout's 18th birthday.

Austin Williams

Austin is an incoming senior at Verona High School. He is on the school’s track team and is a member of the marching band. He has been invited to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum on National Security. As a member of his church, he participates in “The Midnight Run”, an organization that brings aid to the homeless and less fortunate in New York City. He hopes one day to become a Navy SEAL.

For his leadership project, Austin built shelves for a Sunday school classroom at his church. Austin and his volunteers spent 149 man hours completing the project.

Tate Bowers

Tate is an incoming senior at Montclair High School and has lettered in three varsity sports. He is also involved in the school’s academic program, Euro Challenge.

For Tate’s leadership project, he repaired and upgraded a cabin at Camp Glen Gray. Included in his project was the rebuilding of a staircase that was unsafe and the construction of a cement pad to accommodate propane tanks. In addition, he installed benches around the campfire area of the cabin. A total of 213 man hours were logged by Tate and his volunteers to complete this project.

Gabe Umar

Gabe will be a senior at Glen Ridge High School in September. Gabe earned his black belt in karate and has a part-time job as an instructor at his karate school. He has participated in school activities, including Middle School Mentors as well as Heroes and Cool Kids, a state-wide program that teaches younger students about bullying, drug abuse and peer pressure.

For his leadership project, Gabe “adopted a classroom” at the NJ Cerebral Palsy Center. The project consisted of building bookshelves and furniture for the classroom as well as planting flowers. Gabe and his volunteers spent 177 man hours completing the project.