Three Tonganoxie High School students recently achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest award in the Boy Scouts of America and earned by only 4% of Scouts since 1911. To achieve Eagle Scout, a Scout must complete twenty-one merit badges and a service project.
Senior Aiden Van Middlesworth completed a project benefitting the THS band/music program in October 2023. He constructed shelving to improve the faculty's use of allotted organization and storage space. Aiden has been a member of the band program all four years of high school, served as drum major in his senior year and recently received accolades for performing with the All-State Jazz Band. He passed the Heart of America Council Eagle Scout Board of Review on February 15, 2024. Aiden is also a member of the Order of the Arrow, an organization dedicated to service within the larger Boy Scouts of America organization.
Junior Solomon Carter completed a project benefitting Tonganoxie’s Jim Novo-Gradac VFW Memorial Park in February 2024. He designed and placed three interpretive signs in the park that highlight the indigenous trees, birds, and other species important to the park's ecosystem. Solomon competed for THS in Science Olympiad for the last three years and some of his favorite topics were ornithology and forestry. He passed the Eagle Scout Board of Review on March 21, 2024. He is a graduate of the BSA National Youth Leader Training program and a Brotherhood-level member of the Order of the Arrow.
Senior Cayden Hunter enlarged and rebuilt the stone and brick structure at the VFW Memorial Park used for respectful American flag retirement ceremonies. Originally built as a Girl Scout Gold Award project in 2014, the structure has been used each year by Troop 357 to retire more than 1000 flags returned to collection points at the local VFW and American Legion posts. The wear and tear from extensive use inspired Cayden to rebuild the existing structure, making repairs and increasing capacity to better meet the current demand in the community. He passed the Eagle Scout Board of Review on March 21, 2024. Cayden is a graduate of the National Youth Leader Training program as well as a Brotherhood-level member of the Order of the Arrow.
Congratulations, Aiden, Solomon, and Cayden!
