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Stroudsburg Eagle Scouts make school history

Of the hundreds of thousands of students involved in scouting across the country, only a small percentage earns the rank of Eagle Scout.

Stroudsburg High School is home to the Mountaineers. But now scout leaders say it's also home to the largest number of Eagle Scouts in one senior class in the school's history.

"A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent." 

These 11 Eagle Scouts have spent years racking up community service hours and merit badges before tackling their Eagle Scout projects. Each of them picked something to help better the community they live in. 

"I redid the fellowship hall in my church, so I redid the floor and painted the walls over," said Nicholas Trunzo with Troop 300. 

The scouts come from several troops in Monroe County, but all share the same goals and passion for service. 

"I think it really shows how committed we are; scouts as an organization is shrinking a bit; we see that with like troop numbers and new admittance every year, but being able to see eleven whole scouts, eleven whole Eagle Scouts come together in a single class is incredible to see," explained Gunnar Gasper with Troop 86. 

"Most of my troop, we all grew up together, and we did this since we were 5, so from my troop, there are five or six of us that got it from our troop alone," said Trunzo. 

Also, in the senior class, two Girl Scouts reached the gold award, the highest rank earned after completing 80 hours for their own service projects. 

"So what I did was CPR awareness. My dad a couple years ago had a heart attack, and he wouldn't be here today if somebody didn't start CPR right away and save him," said Alexis Tuttle with Troop 51005. 

The scouts say the bond they have will continue to set them up for success well after they walk across the graduation stage.

"The brotherhood of scouting, wherever you go in life, if you say "hey, I'm a boy Scout, I am an Eagle Scout" any other Eagle Scout you meet will say, "I am as well," and you'll be able to make a connection with them," explained Gasper. 

The scouts tell Newswatch 16 that they hope this trend keeps soaring in future classes at Stroudsburg High School. 

The Eagles for the Class of 2024 include:

Matt Arce Troop 300 completed his project at Arlington Elementary School.

Steven Blannard Troop 84 completed his project at Creekview Park for Stroudsburg Little League.

Jacob Christman Troop 300 (Pending completion of project!) will complete his project at Pocono Wildlife and Rehabilitation Center.

Logan Decker Troop 86 completed his project at Zion United Church of Christ.

Nathan Fritz Troop 84 completed his project at First Presbyterian Church in Stroudsburg.

Gunnar Gasper Troop 86 completed his project at the Hospice House in East Stroudsburg.

James Haggerty Troop 300 completed his project at Stroudsburg Middle School.

Andrew Hawks Troop 84 completed his project at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church.

Jordan Smalley Troop 300 completed his project at Pocono Wildlife and Rehabilitation Center.

Jack Susinskas Troop 86 completed his project at Ann Street Park in Stroudsburg Borough.

Nick Trunzo Troop 300 completed his project at Zion United Church of Christ.

The Class of 2024 also has Gold Award recipients:

Natalie Scott Girl Scout Troop 50622, completed her Gold Award at the United Methodist Church "This Room Feeds People"

Alexis Tuttle, Girl Scout Troop 51005, completed her Gold Award for the Church of the Mountain, training people in life-saving CPR skills.

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