Scouts BSA Troop 895 honored seven young men as Eagle Scouts, Boy Scouts of America’s highest award, at a ceremony held at Church of the Palms on July 27, 2020. The Eagle scouts are SMA graduate Dante Aletto, Pineview graduates John Paul Fletcher and Will Getzen, Sarasota High graduates Christian Knuth and Ben Quale, Polytech High School graduate Aidan Sepanski and Polytech High School senior Dylan Stone.

To earn Eagle, each Scout completed a minimum of 21 merit badges, held a variety of leadership roles including Senior Patrol Leader, passed seven Boards of Review, demonstrated Scout Spirit, and led an extensive community service project. Some of their Eagle projects included building whelping boxes for puppies at an animal shelter, facility improvements to Crowley Museum and Nature Center, and an outdoor game area at Church of the Palms. Nationally, only 4% percent of eligible Scouts have achieved this award.

Eagle Scout, Will Getzen, remarked, “Looking back, I realize Scouting taught me essential skills, such as bearing the responsibility of making tough decisions, directing others, and putting fun aside at times to ensure the safety of the group. Being an effective leader is a very hard job, but I am grateful that scouting was able to provide me with a solid foundation.”

Scoutmaster Bobby Fletcher, an Eagle Scout himself, remarked, “It’s been an honor to have seen these young men through Scouting since the second grade; their loyalty and steadiness are a pleasure to see.”

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