Morris County Boy Scouts Honored For Eagle Projects

MORRISTOWN, N.J.–The Morris County Board of Freeholders honored two local Boy Scouts for their "ambitious" Eagle projects, officials said.

Earlier this week, Maxwell Halkenhauser of Scout Troop 118 in Denville and Ryan Mangano of Scout Troop 188 in Landing (Roxbury) received certificates of achievement from the Freeholders. They were joined by their parents.

The projects "targeted [the] needs of their respective communities, requiring hundreds of hours of volunteer efforts by the scouts and their project teams," said Morris County Communications and Digital Media Manager Larry Ragonese.

"It is a privilege to celebrate the positive achievements of these two young men, who are future leaders of our county and state and who already are making a difference in their communities and their schools,’’ said Deputy Freeholder Director Hank Lyon. "The work they've done is impressive and they further exemplify the

merits of the young men and women in Morris County who are involved in scouting.’’

Halkenhauser is a senior at the Morris County Academy of Math and Science, where he wrestles, runs cross country and is a member of he National Honor, math honor, science honor and social studies honor societies.

According to Ragonese, Halkenhauser "selected his project based on what he saw as a need for greater
development of sustainable energy resources in his community of Denville."

Halkenhauser created and installed an electric vehicle charging station and information kiosk in the downtown, according to Ragonese.

Additionally, the Eagle Scout organized a public awareness campaign.

Mangano is a senior at Roxbury High School, where he plays baseball and is a member of the marching band.

He dubbed his project "The Beautification of Shore Hills Beach" in Roxbury.

According to Ragonese, the project involved tearing down and rebuilding the gate guard house and life and refinishing the "pirate ship" that kids play on.

The project was a way to give back to the beach community, Mangano said.

Images courtesy County of Morris