On Sunday, Nov. 24, Troop 50 bestowed the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank during a ceremony honoring new Eagle Scout Joseph Vollenweider. He is the son of Glen and Margaret Vollenweider of Auburn. Joe is the troop’s
20th Eagle Scout since its founding in 2012.
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Ethan, Trey and Creighton (left to right) outline the significance of the
colors of the Eagle Scout rank. |
Joe's Eagle Scout ceremony, held at Auburn United Methodist Church, included fellow Scouts, leaders, family and friends. Senior Patrol Leader Everett oversaw the presentation of colors, followed by welcomes from Scoutmaster Andrew Baird and Chartered Organization Representative Michael Tullier. Readings by fellow Scouts, friend Randy Cottier and Assistant Scoutmaster Wes Williams reminded everyone of the significance citizenship and the rank of Eagle Scout has and will play in Joe's life. The program also included "You Raise Me Up," sung by Rev. Chris Kelsey, Auburn United Methodist Church's director of worship and media.
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Scoutmaster Baird administers the "Eagle Scout Promise" to
Joe while other Eagle Scouts in attendance join him in
reaffirming their commitment to Scouting principles. |
Scoutmaster Baird and Troop Committee Chair Rob Stanford oversaw the official presentation of the Eagle Scout rank to Joe. This included the "Eagle Scout Charge," as well as the "Eagle Scout Promise," which other Eagle Scouts in attendance joined Joe in reciting. Joe's parents joined in the presentation of the Eagle Scout rank, and Joe in turn presented both of his parents with Eagle Scout mother and father pins. On behalf of the troop, Mr. Tullier presented Joe with membership in the
National Eagle Scout Association — a tradition dating back to the troop's first Eagle Scout in 2013.
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| Joe's mother, Margaret, pins him with the Eagle Scout medal while his father, Glen, looks on. |
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Troop Committee Chair Rob Stanford, who also serves as Joe's
Auburn United Methodist Church D-Group leader, congratulates
Joe as being pinned with a mentor pin. |
After the formal awards presentation, Joe then shared words of thanks to those in attendance, as well as to those who had supported his Scouting efforts since his time as a Cub Scout. Following tradition, Joe recognized several special leaders and adults with Eagle Scout mentor pins, which signify the special roles they played in his advancement efforts and in completing his Eagle Scout leadership service project. These included a posthumous presentation to John Cottier, his Cub Scout den leader, which his wife, Randy, received on his behalf. Other honorees included assistant scoutmasters Wes Williams and Christian Dagg, Scoutmaster Andrew Baird, and Troop Committee Chair Rob Stanford. The ceremony concluded with a benediction from Auburn United Methodist Church's senior pastor, Rev. Cory Smith.
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Joe (front row, far right) in April 2014 after earning his Arrow of Light
and crossing over from Pack 29 to Troop 50. |
Joe joined joined Troop 50 in April 2014 after earning the Webelos rank and the Arrow of Light as a Cub Scout in
Pack 29. During his tenure in Troop 50, he has served in several leadership positions leading up to patrol leader, lead troop guide, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader, and his current position as junior assistant scoutmaster. Through his Scouting participation, he earned 26 merit badges and was elected for membership in the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s national honor society.
For his Eagle Scout leadership service project, Joe planned and led volunteers to build a larger debriefing space at the
Auburn University Challenge Course. Family, friends, and fellow Scouts and leaders logged more than 72 service hours planning and constructing the project. The new debriefing area features six foldable benches that alternate between being serving as benches for the debriefing area and as picnic tables for groups participating in the challenge course.
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Joe with his parents following his successful completion of his
Eagle Scout Board of Review. |
After completing the Eagle Scout rank requirements, which included planning and executing his service project, Joe appeared before the
Saugahatchee District’s Eagle Scout Board on Sept. 17, 2019. He is among the two Troop 50 Scouts to earn the Eagle Scout rank during 2019.
Joe is an 11th grader at Auburn High School, where he is active in the Engineering Club and Technical Student Association. He and he parents worship at Auburn United Methodist Church, where he is an active leader of the church’s Youth Group and member of the Youth Choir.
Since the first Eagle Scout was awarded in 1912, nearly 2.5 million Boy Scouts have completed the
Eagle Scout’s performance-based rank requirements, which currently include serving in progressive leadership positions, demonstrating outdoor and Scouting skill competencies, earning at least 21 merit badges, and planning and executing a seminal Eagle Scout leadership service project.
During 2018 alone, 52,160 Boy Scouts earned Scouting’s highest rank.
For more photos from Joe's Eagle Scout Ceremony, visit the troop's
online photo album.
