City Council Honors Brighton High School Students for Achieving Eagle Scout Rank

Retired Scout Master Dennis Kallio has helped produce 63 Eagle Scouts during his 30 years of involvement with Boy Scout Troop 350 -- the latest two are Senior Matthew Hummel and Sophomore Quaid Stouder.

The newly minted Eagle Scouts received Mayoral Proclimations during the City Council meeting Thursday night.

"I look at it as a privilidge," Hummel said about his participation in Troop 350. "The group is very respectful and respected and I wanted to be a part of that."

To earn an Eagle Scout rank, a boy scout must earn 21 merit badges, serve six months in a troop leadership position and plan and develop a community service project.

Hummel's community service project was to create a butterfly garden for .

"It follows their science curriculum because the kids every year grow butterflies in the classroom and then in the spring, they release them," Hummel said. "My garden is like an outdoor classroom. It's a place they can go to see the butterflies they helped grow continue to live."

Stouder's project was to build benches for the Livingston Conservation and Sports Association.

"They really needed the benches because they have a marksmanship program. And before they had the benches, they used rusty old folding chairs and wobbly picnic tables."

Stouder is not the first in his family to become an Eagle Scout -- his older brother is one as well. Stouder said he first got involved in boy scouts because it looked like a lot of fun when his brother did it.

"I encourage the boys to buy into the program and that they take it seriously," Kallio said. "It's a great leadership building skill. And a lot of the qualities that we look for in young people in the community are examples of Eagle Scouts -- or even scouts themselves."

Greg Stouder, Quaid's father and another former Troop 350 Scout Master, added that the boys have to do it themselves.

"The troop gives them the environment, the support and the encouragement, but it's all up to the boys," he said.

Sean and Michele Hummel said they are proud of their son's achievement.

"I'm extremely proud of him for sticking with it for all these years and staying focused to get it done" Sean Hummel said. "And I'm very thankful to all the parents and all the leaders of the troop to help all of our boys get through this. It takes a lot of hard work, not just for the parents, but for everybody. It literally is a whole group effort."

"We're one big family," Kallio said.