Congratulations to ACS 12th grader Hunter Jorgenson and 2022 alumnus Joshua Guevara for recently earning the rank of Eagle Scout as members of Boy Scout Troop 389, which is chartered by Atlantic Christian School. Hunter and Joshua were recognized for their accomplishments at an Eagle Scout Court of Honor on December 17 held in the ACS gym.
A number of dignitaries participated in the ceremony, including U.S. Congressman Jeff Van Drew, New Jersey Assemblyman Don Guardian, Atlantic County Board of Commissioners Vice Chair John Risley, Jr., and Egg Harbor Township Mayor Paul Hodson. Also participating in the ceremony were representatives of the Sons of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Jersey Shore Council Scout Executive James Gillick, Jr.
The dignitaries congratulated each Eagle Scout and presented them with special proclamations and certificates of achievement. Scoutmaster and ACS parent Mike Jorgenson served as the Master of Ceremonies and Assistant Scoutmaster Jeff Campsmith led the Eagle Scouts in the Eagle Scout Pledge. Pastor Robert Trice of One Hope Church opened the Court of Honor with prayer and Pastor George Quinn of Friendship Bible Church gave the closing prayer.
Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen, who attended the ceremony, said was impressed with the character and commitment of both Joshua and Hunter, and praised them for earning the rank of Eagle, which is only achieved by some 4 percent of scout members nationally.
Joshua joined the ACS Boy Scout Troop 389 in 2014 and over his eight years as a scout earned 30 merit badges and held four leadership positions, including Chaplain, Scribe, Treasurer, and Patrol Leader. He was awarded the Eagle Scout rank in May 2022, after completing the required Eagle Scout project.
For his project, Joshua created a 20′ x 16′ oval landscaping bed for the church sign of One Hope Church in Absecon, replacing a smaller bed that was overrun with weeds and ants. The project, which took 91 hours to complete and involved supervising 35 volunteers, included building a brick wall around the landscaping bed, filling the bed with annual and perennial plants, and installing an automatic irrigation system and lighting.
Hunter joined Boy Scout Troop 389 in 2015 and in seven years earned 26 merit badges. He held five leadership positions in the Troop, including Assistant Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader, and Chaplain’s Aide.
Hunter’s Eagle Scout project benefited the Longport Veterans Monument. Over two work days in May 2022, Hunter led a group of 14 scouts and 4 adults from Boy Scout Troop 389 in cleaning the stone monument, brickwork, and walking paths, power washing the gazebo, installing a park bench which had been donated and refurbished by the Scouts, and adding plants to the grounds.
