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How do you become an Eagle Scout?: prioritize inner character and education

By PATRICK ADRIAN
Special to The Eagle Times
CLAREMONT — Stevens High School sophomore Prescott Herzog’s journey to the rank of Eagle Scout spanned nine years, multiple residencies and numerous trials, lessons and discoveries. One memorable learning, Prescott said, was dining on squirrel during a wilderness survival venture.

“It actually does taste like chicken,” he said, “When you’re in the freezing cold, food is food.”

Saturday morning family, friends, local officials and members of the Boy Scouts of America celebrated Prescott’s attainment of Eagle Scout, the highest rank in the organization, at an award ceremony at the Teal Lantern dining room at Claremont’s Sugar River Valley Career and Technical Center. Attending officials included state Senator Martha Hennessey (D – District 5); County Commissioner Jeff Barrett; Claremont Mayor Charlene Lovett; and State Rep. Ray Gagnon (D – Ward III).

Attaining the rank of Eagle Scout is considered a sacred honor within the Boy Scouts. Only two percent of boy scouts ever achieve the Eagle Scout rank, which requires several years of commitment, badges in an array of physically and mentally rigorous challenges and perhaps most daunting, a highly involved community service project.

Prescott began his project two years ago, shortly after moving with his family to Claremont from Minnesota. Driven by his interest in nutrition, Prescott launched an impressive campaign to increase student attention to the importance of breakfast in academic and athletic performance, raising $8,000 in funds to add a smoothie cart to Stevens cafeteria and initially provide free breakfasts to all students. Prescott’s fund raising included $2,000 from the Domino Corporation, a grant from the New England Dairy and Food Council, venture capital funding and donations from local businesses, banks and citizens. Last year the Claremont Chamber of Commerce awarded Prescott its Model Youth of the Year, in recognition of his project’s success and his overall community work.

Prescott’s father and scoutmaster Alex Herzog presented Prescott with a maple walking stick, which he crafted himself from a locally harvested wood.

“As you move forward in life, you can lean on it as you’ve leaned on your fellow scouts to support you,” Herzog told his sold.

Speeches from family members also included Prescott’s mother Shawn Herzog, his sister Aubrey and grandfather John Herzog. John Herzog, who came to America as German refuge at the end of World War II, said his own father had lost all his wealth during that period but never lost sight on prioritizing inner character and education.

“[He told me] education should always be your priority in life, and to try every day to learn something new,” John said.

Shawn Herzog said that she and Alex made attaining Eagle Scout a requirement before Prescott could obtain his driver’s license.

“I was told you have to get Eagle Scout before car fumes and perfumes,” Alex said.

Since he became Scout Master of Troop 38, the Claremont troop’s members have more than doubled, from three to seven, which Alex credits to increased marketing and youth outreach.

“We have four new scouts this year, which is pretty amazing given the numbers were declining,” Alex said.

While Prescott was the only scout in the troop achieving Eagle Scout rank this year, Alex said that about three members should achieve theirs within the next two years.

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