WESTWOOD, N.J.—For most Scouts, earning the rank of Eagle Scout represents years of camping trips, merit badges, service projects, leadership positions and personal growth. For Westwood’s Troop 350, it also represents lasting improvements that can be seen throughout the community.
Family members, fellow Scouts, troop leaders, municipal officials and representatives of the Northern New Jersey Council gathered at Zion Lutheran Church June 6 for a Court of Honor recognizing eight new Eagle Scouts: Nicholas Doell, Reed Gehringer, William Harrahy, Henry Herzing, Simon Maver, Noah Perez, Arinjay Tammanagoudar, and Nolan Wendrychowicz.
Throughout the ceremony, speakers emphasized that the Eagle rank is both a recognition of achievement and a commitment to lifelong service, leadership and citizenship.
“The ideals of scouting will forever be a part of them,” master of ceremonies Bernadette Gehringer told attendees.
Collectively, the Scouts’ projects addressed environmental stewardship, education, historic preservation, support for hospitalized children, veterans recognition and civic beautification—leaving benefits that residents will continue to enjoy for years to come.
Mayor Ray Arroyo, who attended the ceremony and presented certificates on behalf of the borough, praised the Scouts’ contributions to Westwood.
“We are grateful for Simon’s, and his fellow Eagles’, civic improvements to Westwood,” Arroyo said. “We want all the boys to realize how this experience has truly improved their own lives.”
The projects themselves reflect the breadth of interests and talents within the troop.
Nicholas “Nico” Doell created the Westwood Community Composting Initiative, establishing a program that allows residents to divert food waste from landfills. Working with Neighborhood Compost, he raised more than $6,400 to construct a collection shed at the Department of Public Works and create infrastructure designed to support the initiative for years to come.
Reed Gehringer designed and built a display cabinet at Westwood Regional High School honoring graduates and staff members who served in the United States military. Inspired by the service of his grandparents, Barry and Jane Gehringer, he researched veterans connected to the school and created a permanent tribute to their contributions.
William Harrahy partnered with the Westwood Public Library, the Westwood Historical Society and local craftsman George Mulhauser to create six handcrafted chess tables for library patrons. He also worked with the library’s Garden Committee to catalog plantings and develop an interactive online garden map.
Henry Herzing focused his efforts on helping families facing unexpected medical crises. Through fundraising, donations and volunteer support, he assembled and delivered 75 “Henry’s Healing Go Bags” to Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center. Filled with comfort items, toiletries, blankets and activities, the bags were designed to help children and families during difficult hospital stays.
Simon Maver combined conservation and education by constructing owl houses and bat boxes throughout Pascack and Westvale parks. The project included educational signage and an informational website explaining the role bats and owls play in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
Arroyo singled out Maver’s project during the ceremony, noting the extensive research that preceded the work.
“An Eagle Scout project is about more than the final product,” Arroyo said. “It is about identifying an unmet community need, developing a plan to address it, and leading others in pursuit of a meaningful result.”
Noah Perez transformed an underused area at Brookside Elementary School into an outdoor reading and learning space featuring gathering areas for classroom instruction, reading and small-group activities. He also planted a shade tree and restored butterfly bushes, creating a welcoming environment for future students. Perez’s project was later recognized as the Northern New Jersey Council’s Eagle Project of the Year.
Arinjay Tammanagoudar led a beautification effort at the Westwood Post Office, installing flowers, decorative planters, solar lighting and a commemorative plaque honoring Marine Sgt. Christopher R. Hrbek. The improvements transformed the entrance into a more inviting and meaningful public space.
Nolan Wendrychowicz built two flag retirement boxes, one at the Westwood Fire Department and another at Borough Hall, providing residents with a respectful way to retire worn American flags. To fund the project, he organized a community fundraiser and raised approximately $1,500.
The accomplishments of the eight Scouts extend far beyond their Eagle projects.
Among them are varsity athletes, honor students, musicians, performers, volunteers, student leaders and aspiring engineers, educators, scientists and business professionals. Together they have earned hundreds of merit badges and served the troop in leadership roles ranging from patrol leader and troop guide to quartermaster and senior patrol leader.
Several also followed family traditions within scouting. During the ceremony, many were escorted by older Eagle Scout brothers who had previously completed the same journey, including Alexander Doell, Tyler Gehringer, Erik Herzing, Maximus Perez and Tanush Tammanagoudar.
Representatives of the Northern New Jersey Council reminded the candidates that Eagle Scout remains one of the highest honors in scouting because it carries obligations as well as privileges.
“As an Eagle Scout, you have assumed a solemn obligation to do your duty to God, to your country, to your fellow Scouts and to mankind in general,” Northern New Jersey Council Advancement Committee co-chair Rob Stigliano told the candidates.
The eight Scouts then recited the Eagle Scout Promise and were formally welcomed into the Eagle Scout brotherhood.
The borough also recognized Bernadette Gehringer, a longtime Troop 350 leader and one of the ceremony’s masters of ceremonies, with a mayoral proclamation honoring her years of service and leadership within the troop.
For Troop 350, the Court of Honor marked the culmination of years of effort by Scouts, parents and volunteers alike. For Westwood, it served as a reminder that community service is often built project by project, volunteer by volunteer and generation by generation.
As Arroyo told the Scouts, the projects they completed may improve parks, schools, public spaces and civic institutions, but they have also shaped the young men who created them.
“We hope their service projects filled their hearts with appreciation for their hometown and strengthened the unbreakable connection they will always have with Westwood and the people who’ve loved and raised them,” he said.
— John Snyder photos
