East Islip Boy Scout earns Eagle Scout badge

Jacob Arens, of East Islip, successfully completed his Eagle Board of Review on June 11, 2020, officially making him the 92nd Eagle Scout of Troop 205 of Great River, East Islip, and Islip Terrace.

Jacob’s Eagle Court of Honor will be held on Saturday, May 15, starting at in the Fellowship Hall at Trinity Lutheran Church, 111 Nassau Avenue, Islip.

Jacob is a member of Troop 205, sponsored by the Great River Fire Department, under the direction of scoutmaster Mark Businski. On his “Road to Eagle,” Jacob has served Troop 205 as senior patrol leader for five terms, chaplain’s aide, historian, and troop guide – working with his younger scouts on their rank advancements.

Jacob has had many unique scouting experiences, with 66 camping nights with the troop. Some of his favorite camping experiences included being a Boy Scout Camp Wakpominee Camper for five summer seasons, a member of the Elk Horn High Adventure Camp Crew – hiking over 100 miles in the Colorado Rockies for 10 days along with his father Mike Arens, the 2017 National Boy Scout Jamboree at the Bechtel Summit in West Virginia, a 2019 Crew Member The Florida Seabase – scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, swimming for a week in the Florida Keys living on a sailboat, Montauk Fishing Trip, Camp Wakpominee Ski Trip, Harriman State Park Hiking Trip, Washington, D.C, Gettysburg Historical Trails, Camp Hero – Long Island, Mystic Seaport, Cedar Point County Park Camping, Indian Island County Park Bike Hike, and the Suffolk County Council Camporee.

To become an Eagle Scout, a scout must earn 21 merit badges, of which 13 are specifically Eagle required, progress through six rank advancements – from Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, then Eagle, and also plan, develop, and implement a major service project for the community. Jacob has actually earned 32 merit badges.

The service project that Jacob developed, planned, and implemented with the assistance of his immediate and extended family members due to COVID restrictions, was planning, purchasing, and installing 200 feet of white, attractive two-rail, western-style fence at his home church – Trinity Lutheran – along Union Boulevard in Islip.

Jacob has also earned the following awards and achievement in Scouts: Webelos Arrow of Light, Firem’n Chit, Tot’in Chit, Cyber Chip, Scuba BSA, and has been awarded the Troop 205 “Top Ten” Attendance, Participation, and Preparedness Award.

“Ever since I was young, I was encouraged to become a Boy Scout and help my community,” he said. “I was taught about being kind in every situation and create new friends every day. As a scout, I, along with other scouts can help change the future for the better. From now on and for the rest of my life, I will be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.”

Jacob is currently a senior at East Islip High School, where he has achieved Honor Roll status in each and every quarter since the ninth grade. Jacob is a three-year member and captain of his high school Mock Trial Team, where has competed in the Empire World Tournament from 2017 to the present, where his team competed with teams from 37 states and eight countries across the world.

Jacob attended the EDNY Justice Institute Summer Program in 2018, where his team placed first in the competition. Jacob also participated in the Harvard Mock Trial Program in 2018. He also competed in the NYSBA (New York State Bar Association) Mock Trial Tournament from 2018 to present.

Jacob was a junior varsity wrestler during the 2017/2018 season and has been on the varsity track & field team since 2017 – contributing in the 100 meter and 200-meter sprinter. He has also been a member of the Section XI Warriors rugby team and has been an assistant to the coaches of the South Shore Hookers 12U and 14U Teams.

During his high school tenure, he is also a member of the Tri-M National Honor Society, where they complete community service and perform for the community.

Jacob has performed in NYSSMA for trumpet and piano throughout his high school career, where he continues to practice and play trumpet, piano, guitar, and ukulele. Jacob also attended HOBY Leadership Seminar to expand his leadership skills in 2019 (year), at Adelphi University.

Volunteering has been a way of life for Jacob as he has worked on many Eagle Scout projects and has logged in 44 community service hours through Troop 205. Jacob is also an usher at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Islip.

Upon his high school graduation, he will be attending John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio, where he plans to major in their history and MBA joint program and play rugby. He also plans to attend law school.