Only about four percent of Scouts ever attain the Eagle Scout rank, the highest honor offered by Scouting America. In a remarkable display of dedication and teamwork, six members of Troop 347 from Tontogany, Ohio, will receive the award together at an Eagle Court of Honor held at Otsego High School on Sunday, Nov. 1.
Scouts share their feelings
When asked about the milestone, each of the six young men expressed a mix of pride, relief and excitement. Noah Ellerbrock said he felt “accomplished,” while Nolan Vollmar described his reaction as “relieved.” Travis Vollmar added that he was “proud,” and Ben Nussbaum said he was “pretty excited.” Jack Miles echoed the sentiment, saying he felt “accomplished,” and Crosby Brewer summed it up with, “I’d say I feel proud, honestly.”
Years of effort pay off
For many of the Scouts, the Eagle rank represents years of consistent effort. Ellerbrock noted, “It means a lot. It just shows my leadership and my dedication because I’ve been doing this since first grade. It’s a long time to be dedicated to it.” Vollmar added, “It’s proof that I work hard and that I made an accomplishment that I can show everybody that my efforts paid off.”
Travis Vollmar highlighted how rare the achievement is, saying, “There is actually a very low percentage of scouts that actually get to be Eagle Scouts and get to go all the way through. I’m very proud of myself for sticking in there.”
Service projects benefit the community
Each Scout completed an Eagle‑required service project that benefits a local organization or public space. Ellerbrock built a shed for the Montessori School of Bowling Green, his former school. Nolan Vollmar constructed a kiosk at the Slippery Trail South Terminal in North Baltimore. Travis Vollmar installed gun racks for the Maumee Valley Shooting Club. Nussbaum created a gaga‑ball pit in a park near his school. Miles built helmet lockers for the Grand Rapids Baseball Fields in Grand Rapids. Brewer erected a fence around the recycling bins next to the town hall.
Friendship forged in Cub Scouts
The Scouts emphasized that earning Eagle together makes the honor even more meaningful. “It’s awesome. It’s a huge thing because I’ve known these guys for a really long time since Cub Scouts,” Ellerbrock said. Vollmar noted, “They’re good guys to hang around. We have a lot of fun: camp outs and hikes and all our adventures.” Travis Vollmar added, “We’ve actually been together since Cub Scouts, and that has really helped to make friendships and relationships with all of us.”
For Nussbaum, the achievement also connects to family tradition. “My older brother became an Eagle Scout a couple years ago, and so I’ve always kind of wanted to follow in his footsteps,” he explained. Brewer summed up the group’s sentiment, “I feel like I’ve gotten really close to them and we’ve been through a lot, so getting this honor with them, seeing that they succeeded just as I did, I’m really happy about it.”
Community pride
The ceremony at Otsego High School will be a celebration not only of individual accomplishment but also of the positive impact these young leaders have had on the surrounding neighborhoods. Parents, troop leaders and local officials are expected to attend, underscoring the role of Scouting in fostering leadership, service and strong family values in the Tontogany area.
As the six Scouts prepare to step onto the stage, they embody the principles of hard work, dedication and community service that Scouting America promotes. Their shared journey from Cub Scouts to Eagle Scouts serves as an inspiring example for younger members of Troop 347 and for youth throughout Lucas County.
Original reporting: 13abc WTVG Toledo (news) — read the source article.
