Daniel McElwee and Matthew Per, both residents of West Windsor, seniors at High School South, and friends since elementary school, recently received their Eagle Award, the highest rank in scouting.##M:[more]##
McElwee, involved in scouting since the first grade as a Tiger Cub in Pack 40 in West Windsor; and Per, who started his scouting experience in second grade when he and seven other boys became the founding members of Cub Pack 48 in West Windsor, both enjoyed participating in Pinewood Derbies, Raingutter Regattas, and trips to ball games and the rodeo. After earning their Arrow of Light from their respective packs, they bridged to Troop 40 as Boy Scouts in 2001.
McElwee, who was voted into Scouting’s honor society, the Order of the Arrow, in 2004, has served as patrol leader, den chief, instructor, crew chief, and troop guide.
Per, who led Troop 40 in volunteering for the Special Olympics of NJ Service Camporees over the past four years, has served as patrol quartermaster, patrol leader, and instructor.
Both scouts remember summer camp at Hawk Mountain and NoBeBoSco, hiking along portions of the Appalachian Trail, canoe trips, Sea Base camp in the Florida Keys, a hike to the 6,”288-foot summit of Mount Washington in 2005, and scaling Porter and Cascade mountains in the Adirondacks.
Per, an active member of the youth group at Congregation Beth Chaim, chose the synagogue as the beneficiary of his leadership service project. He created the “Ten Commandments Garden,” a garden and stone border in front of the stained glass windows that reflects the two tablets and their shape. Mike Schuit served as his project advisor. The labor, done over the span of four days, took 225 people-hours supplied by 35 volunteer scouts, friends, family, and congregants.
McElwee planned a forest garden grotto at the Visitation Home, a faith-based group home in Yardville, with his Eagle advisor, Tim Reil. After hundreds of hours of work with fellow scouts, adult leaders, and high school friends, a red cedar arbor was built with stone benches, evergreens, and a stone path. The quiet place for prayer and reflection has a plaque commemorating the Troop 40 Eagle project.
At South, McElwee is a member of the Student Council, Peer Group Leaders, National Honor Society, and has appeared in every musical production since his freshman year. He is also a member of the High School Mathematics Honor Society, was elected to Homecoming Court, voted “Renaissance Man” by his class for 2008, and recently won the “Mr. South” competition.
A Red Cross certified lifeguard, he spends summers as a lifeguard at the West Windsor Community Pool. During his high school years, he has played on the soccer and lacrosse teams and rowed with the Mercer Junior Rowing Club.
McElwee, who is heading to Villanova University to study international economics and politics, plans to enroll in Villanova’s Naval Reserve Officer Training Program in the fall.
For the past three years Per participated in a philanthropic program sponsored by the Jewish Community Youth Foundation, which benefits a number of worthy non-profit organizations throughout the country.
Per, who has played soccer and lacrosse for the school teams, as well as recreation soccer and basketball in the township leagues, is a certified soccer referee for the WWPSA league. A Red Cross certified lifeguard, Per has worked at the Princeton YMCA and the West Windsor Community Pool. He will major in sports management at James Madison University in Virginia.
Bill Hasling served as Scoutmaster for the majority of time both were working through the ranks up to Eagle in Troop 40.
