Newark teen earns Eagle Scout rank

A Newark teen received his Eagle Scout rank last month after completing a community service project at Howard Weston Senior Center in New Castle.

Jacob Laws, a member of Boy Scout Troop 2281, assembled a volunteer crew to revitalize the center's outdoor spaces. Under his direction, the team refurbished existing flower boxes, refreshed mulched areas, constructed four new standing planters and erected a freshly painted sign for the facility.

His responsibilities included securing funding, procuring materials and supervising the volunteers through project completion.

“This remarkable accomplishment is the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance,” said Florence Smith, Troop 2281 committee chair. “Jacob joins an elite group of individuals who have displayed extraordinary determination and civic responsibility from an early age.”

Laws, 18, was supported by Scoutmaster Jason Burns, mentor Lars Jensen and his mother, Amy Parke.

“Jacob has learned to overcome obstacles, demonstrated leadership among his peers, gained confidence, and built new skills that he will carry with him for life,” Smith said.

To earn the rank of Eagle, a scout must climb seven scouting ranks, attain 21 merit badges, become a leader in the troop and demonstrate leadership, including successfully planning and completing a community service project. Only 6 percent of scouts nationwide achieve an Eagle rank.

Laws, who is the third Eagle Scout for Troop 2281, received his award during a Court of Honor ceremony April 20.