David Sandgren participates in the lighting ceremony at his Eagle Scout Court of Honor on Jan. 14 in Candor, N.Y. (Photos by JoAnn R. Walter)
Honored at a ceremony held on Jan. 14 at the Allen Memorial Baptist Church in Candor, N.Y., Candor High School Senior and Boy Scout Troop 42 member, David Sandgren, earned the rank of Eagle Scout.
The prestigious award is the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank, and only about six percent of scouts receive the coveted award. Sandgren joins two other Eagle Scouts from Candor Boy Scout Troop 42 who have achieved this honor.
For 18-year-old Sandgren, the journey to Eagle Scout began in 2010. Sandgren completed 21 merit badges, 13 of which are required, and earned seven ranks. His final challenge was to fulfill a community service project.
Sandgren’s parents and brother, along with other family, friends and several guest speakers attended the ceremony.
Committee Chair, Linda Shields commented, “Each rank challenges them, and then they plan and perform a community service project,” adding, “A project of substance.”
David Sandgren, of Candor, N.Y., earned the rank of Eagle Scout on Jan. 14 at a ceremony at Allen Memorial Baptist Church.
Sandgren’s project involved the beautification of Hull Park, located on Main Street, and across the road from the school. After the Village Board and the Eagle Scouts Board of Review approved Sandgren’s project plan, he went to work to restore and refurbish the park. Sandgren worked nearly 130 hours over the course of several weeks, along with a crew of volunteers, and spread mulch, planted flowers, placed stones, assembled benches and painted the gazebo.
Pastor Mike Eaton, Sr. Pastor at Allen Memorial Baptist Church offered an opening prayer and benediction at the ceremony. Eaton shared a chapter of Candor history, too, explaining that a previous pastor at the church who served from about 1911-1916 helped organize the first Boy Scout troop in town. It was in 1912 that the first Eagle Scout was awarded in the U.S.
Other guest speakers at the ceremony were Scoutmaster Joe Husband, former Scoutmaster, Russ Cornwell and Johnathan Zisk, a teacher at Candor High School. All shared personal insights, as well as spoke of the character traits that encompass the Eagle Scout rank, such as trustworthiness, loyalty, kindness and bravery, among others.
Husband remarked about Sandgren’s accomplishment, “This is the beginning, not the end,” and added that he is interested in seeing what impact Sandgren will have on the community and society in the future.
Following graduation, Sandgren said that he first plans to attend a local community college for two years before pursuing a degree in the engineering field.
Mr. Walter,
Please let it be known that your statement “Sandgren joins two other Eagle Scouts from Candor Boy Scout Troop 42 who have achieved this honor” is incorrect; the count is somewhere between 25 and 50. I am currently working on pulling together the complete list with names and years that they earned their Eagle, once complied I will forward on to you in hopes that a correction to this article will be made.
I believe this was a submitted article, so please send all of the names so these young men can get recognition as well. You can email the information to wpost@owegopennysaver.com. Thank you.