James Zeoli of West Windsor’s Troop 66 received the Eagle Scout Award on June 16 during a ceremony at St. David the King Catholic Church. A rising senior at High School North, Zeoli received certificates of merit from both New Jersey State Senator Linda Greenstein and West Windsor Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh.
Zeoli’s service project focused on designing and building new benches in the dugouts at West Windsor Little League’s Ward Field. The benches, which include cubbyholes for gear storage, were capped with composite lumber for durability and longevity. He worked with West Windsor Little League coordinators Ellen Vogt and Andy Lupo.
He began his scouting career in Cub Scout Pack 40 where he earned his Arrow of Light award. At the age of 10 he joined Boy Scout Troop 66 and started camping throughout the year. Zeoli participated annually in the Ironman competition –– running, mountain biking, and kayaking –– to help the troop earn honor troop points, and he was given the nickname “Iron Man” by Scoutmaster Mark Lee. In 2008, as acting senior patrol leader, he led the troop on a three-night trip to Washington, D.C., and in 2010 he attended a high adventure sailing program at Rodney Scout Reservation, where he was part of a crew who sailed a yacht down to Baltimore Harbor to learn the ropes of sailing and motor boating.
An avid musician, Zeoli plays drums, piano, tuba, and saxophone. At North he plays tuba in the band and orchestra and is the drummer in the rock band Emission. He is also on the varsity football team. He plans to pursue a college degree in recording engineering and music.
