The Morris County Board of Freeholders recently honored two Kinnelon Boy Scouts for their community-minded projects that helped them attain Boy Scouting’s highest ranking of Eagle Scout.

The projects included building flag collection boxes and re-landscaping an outdoor area at Kinnelon High School. The projects required fundraising and many hundreds of hours of work by the scouts and their volunteer teams.

“The freeholders celebrate the dedication and hard work of these young men. The projects that they have completed have set an example for all of us here in Morris County,” said Freeholder Director Doug Cabana. “We greatly appreciate their dedication and hard work.”

The freeholders, at their June 26 meeting in Morristown, awarded county certificates to Patriots Path Council Scouts: Gabriel Lipinski, Kinnelon, Troop 277 and Jason Meehan, Kinnelon, Troop 277

Both of these Scouts have impressive resumes, including scholastic, scouting and personal achievements.

Here is a snapshot of each Scout:

Gabriel Lipinski is a Kinnelon resident and a recent graduate of Kinnelon High School where he was a member of the National Honor Society, Math Honor Society, and Spanish Honor Society. Also, he was a member of student council, peer leader TSA, participated in mock trial, Pep Band, culinary club, and pit orchestra. 

He also played Varsity Golf for the Colts, who were co-conference champions.

Scouting for Gabe began in first grade, as he earned the Arrow of Light. As a Boy Scout, he was a member of the Order of the Arrow, attended National Youth Leadership Training and the 2017 National Scout Jamboree, placed first and third in the Junior Klondike and placed second in the Senior Klondike. 

For his Eagle Scout Award Project, Gabe built two American flag collection boxes so that the scouts of his troop would have places to properly dispose of old or retired flags provided by people in his community. 

Jason Meehan will be a junior at Kinnelon High School, where he participates in various clubs, music programs, and sports. 

During his first two years, he has taken all honors classes in science, math, English, Spanish, and history. He is a full year ahead in math and science. A member of the World Language Honor Society, he anticipates working to earn places on the National Honor Society and other honor societies next year. 

Jason is a competing member of the DECA club (Distributive Education Clubs of America that focus on marketing, management and entrepreneurship), and enjoys fencing and golf at school

Jason has been in scouting since 2014 and has worked his way through the ranks to Star, Life and Eagle Rank. He has earned 37 merit badges, and held many leadership positions, including Senior Patrol Leader, Troop Guide, Patrol Leader, Scribe, and Instructor.

For his Eagle Scout project, he re-landscaped an outdoor area at Kinnelon High School – namely a large hedge in the shape of a K surrounded by bushes that forms a horseshoe around the K near the high school football field.