Local Scouts Earn Eagle Scout Award

The Oldham Era, January 2009

Harold Erixon

On August 11th, Harold Andrew Sidney Arnold Erixon, III, a member of Troop 153, received Boy Scouting’s highest honor, the Eagle Scout award. He completed the requirements earlier this summer, just three days before his 18th birthday. He is the son of Harold and Deborah Erixon, of Centerfield.

Harold, a graduate of Oldham County High School, began his Scouting career in the 1st Grade with Pack 153 at Centerfield Elementary. He continued through Cub Scouts and earned the Arrow of Light, the highest rank in Cub Scouts. He first joined Troop 144 where he began his Boy Scout experience. He later joined Troop 153, which is sponsored by Centerfield Church. He served in several leadership positions, including Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Troop Guide, Instructor, Scribe, Librarian, and Assistant Patrol Leader.

Harold was a member of Oldham County High School’s wrestling team for four years and a member of the Cross Country team during his senior year. His Scouting highlights includes a whitewater rafting trip in West Virginia and a sailing trip at Florida’s Sea Base, where he caught a 42 inch barracuda.

To attain the rank of Eagle, a scout must complete a total of 21 Merit Badges, twelve of which come from a specific list of Merit Badges. He must serve in a leadership capacity for his troop for a total of at least sixteen months. He must perform several hours of community service over his scouting career, and must lead a service project that demonstrates his ability to plan, organize and lead others in an act of community service. For his service project, Harold led the construction of an outdoor classroom at East Oldham Middle School.

Harold is the first scout to earn this award in Troop 153 since it reformed in 2003. Scoutmaster John Jennings said that he is proud of Harold’s accomplishment and his dedication to following through on a goal he set for himself five years ago. Harold is now a Freshman at Lamar University in Texas, where he is majoring in Chemical Engineering.

Joshua Jennings

On October 13th, Joshua Kerby Jennings became the second member of Troop 153 to earn the Eagle Scout award. He completed the requirements and the Eagle Board of Review in August. He is the son of John and Debbie Jennings, of Crestwood.

Joshua, a Junior at South Oldham High School, also began scouting in the 1st Grade with Pack 153 at Centerfield Elementary. He earned the earned the Arrow of Light in February, 2003. Prior to graduating from Cub Scouts, Joshua earned the Joyful Servant Award on February 1st, 2003. This is the religious award for Cub Scouts in the Churches of Christ.

He became a charter member of Troop 153 when it was founded in 2003 and has been an integral part of the organization’s leadership. During his tenure he has served three terms as Senior Patrol Leader. He has also served as Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Troop Guide, Patrol Leader, Instructor and Historian.

Joshua has enjoyed a number of fun activities as a Boy Scout. He has gone on trips to the Huntsville Space Center in Alabama and to the USS Yorktown in Charleston, South Carolina. He has been tossed about while whitewater rafting on the New River in West Virgina; sailed the blue ocean waves of the Florida Keys and swam with a shark in the coral reef.

In addition to scouting, Joshua is a member of the Diplomacy Club, works on the school newspaper staff, and plays the Alto Saxophone in the South Oldham High School Wind Ensemble. He leads a weekly devotional at SOHS and is also actively involved with the Westport Church of Christ youth group. This past summer he went on a mission trip to Mexico City.

For his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project, Joshua built a brick sign in front of the Centerfield Church. This included designing the wall, coordinating the electrical work, installing the footers, laying the bricks, installing a new rock pathway and planting the shrubs. Joshua logged 98 hours of service on his project and was aided by 24 scouts, friends and adults who gave an additional 280 hours.

Joshua is looking forward to more adventures in Boy Scouts. After completing High School, he plans to attend college and pursue one of his areas of interest. This will most likely be something in the area of history, law or journalism. He also hopes to go on more mission trips and travel to more countries.