Ojas Diwan of Plainsboro was recently awarded his Eagle Scout award. He is a member of Troop 759. Diwan completed his Eagle Scout Leadership project at the Durga Temple Kingston and his Eagle project included landscaping 420 square feet of lawn facing Route 27 and planting evergreens and flowers. He also painted eight benches around the temple.
A senior at High School North, Diwan joined the troop as a webolo in 2007. He has served as the troop’s senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, webmaster, and troop guide, as well as other leadership positions. He has been working in the aquatics departments of Ockanickon Scout Reservation since 2010 and did a 68-mile backpacking expedition at Philmont Ranch in 2011. He is the son of Makarand and Swati Diwan of Plainsboro.
Troop 759, chartered through Queenship of Mary Church in Plainsboro, meets most Fridays at 7:30 p.m. Visit www.troop759nj.org for information.
Boy Scouts Imraan Adat, Zachary Martin, and Sachin Natarajan, all members of Troop 168 in Plainsboro, were honored at a special court of honor for achieving the Eagle Scout award. On their way to Eagle Scout, each of the boys has served the troop in a broad range of leadership roles including senior patrol leader, and completed a major community service project.
Adat, a Boy Scout since seventh grade, has earned 22 merit badges. His community service project consisted of the building of an earth loom to be used as part of Plainsboro Library’s cultural celebration and future community events. Community members have already used it to spin wool and weave projects.
“I loved the idea of building something which would bring members of the Plainsboro multi-cultural community together,” he says. His project mentors were Vic Ofman, who helped with the construction of the loom; Nick O’Leary, who helped with the design and construction of the loom; and Maria O’Leary, who advised him on how to warp the loom. His troop advisor was Rose Logan.
A senior at High School South, he plans to major in biotechnology when he goes to college next fall. His ultimate goal is to manage a science research company. He is the son of Balvinder and Munir Adat.
Martin’s Scouting career started in Cub Scouts in second grade as a Wolf Scout. He joined Troop 168 in fifth grade and has earned 24 merit badges. His community service project was building 10 portable benches for the Kateri Environmental Center, a nonprofit camp that has summer programs for underprivileged children. The benches will be used around the center to provide seating for various outdoor activities.
“I was able to give back to my school community while at the same time helping others in need,” says Martin. “Kateri needed portable benches so that they could have activities set up throughout their large grounds. They are mostly used in conjunction with its fire ring so that everyone can sit together and enjoy the fire.”
His mentors were Rose Logan, who provided guidance on writing his proposal and final report; Dave Wiemer, his former scoutmaster; Vic Ofman, who helped him refine and improve his bench design; and his father, Neil, who helped him organize and complete the project.
A senior at Collier High School, Martin plans on becoming an elementary school teacher. He is the son of Ana and Neil Martin.
Natarajan joined Boy Scouts in 2007 and has earned 21 merit badges. Always wanting to help the community, Natarajan led a successful bike drive for the Trenton Boys and Girls Club to help support after school programs in impoverished areas. He collected old and unwanted bikes and parts which were then donated to the bike exchange program. They will be repaired and sold.
“I chose to help the Trenton Boys and Girls Club as my leadership project because I wanted to help the community and underprivileged kids,” he says. He credits his mother for helping him choose the Trenton Boys and Girls club as the organization to help.
Sachin’s mentors were Dave Wiemer, Lynn Hoff, Pat Foo, Rose Logan, and Neil Martin, each of who offered guidance and motivation throughout his project and throughout his scouting career.
Natarajan, a graduate of High School North. is a sophomore majoring in actuarial science at Robert Morris University. He is the son of Natarajan Venugopalan and Chenthamarai Natarajan from Plainsboro.
For information about Boy Scout Troop 168, contact Mark Rogers at troop168nj@gmail.com or visit plainsboro168.mytroop.us. The troop meets every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at High School North.
