Middletown, Lincroft

Mar 14, 2023

Middletown Honors Three Troop 32 Eagle Scouts

Submitted by Amy DeSanctis

From left: Ian Wolfe, Jasper Malles and Matthew Poandl

While still in grade school, three young men began their journey to Eagle Scout as young boy scouts at Boy Scouts of America Troop 32, River Plaza. Over the past seven years, they worked together, learned from each other, and realized what they can accomplish as they earned merit badges, camped throughout the region, and advanced through the organization’s ranks to achieve the highest honor in scouting: Eagle Scout. On Jan. 8, Troop 32 honored Jasper Malles, Matthew Poandl and Ian Wolfe at an Eagle Court of Honor ceremony at the Knights of Columbus #646 Fair Haven, before Troop 32’s leadership, fellow Scouts, family, friends and area dignitaries.

To become an Eagle Scout, Scouts must earn 21 merit badges: 13 required merit badges and more than eight additional elective merit badges; serve in troop leadership positions for a minimum of 16 months; and spend at least 112 hours on service projects. Collectively, these three Scouts spent more than 200 nights camping, earned more than 85 merit badges, and completed more than 325 different requirements while in Boy Scouts.

“These three young men represent a commitment not only to scouting but to their community,” said Scoutmaster Brian DeShong. “They all participated in Eagle projects that contributed to the betterment of Middletown. It is an honor to assist in guiding these Scouts over the years and to see them turn into fine young men and become an asset to our town and our Troop.”

Malles is a junior at the Marine Academy of Science and Technology. He is also an active member of the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s honor society. In the summer of 2022, Malles also completed a 12-day High Adventure trek at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. For his Eagle project, he constructed and installed an osprey nest in Whale Creek Salt Marsh in Aberdeen Township. Malles has served as Senior Patrol Leader of the Troop.

Poandl is currently a senior in high school at Middletown High South and will pursue a career as an operating engineer after graduation. In the summer of 2022, Poandl also completed a 12-day High Adventure trek at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. His Eagle project consisted of designing and building a wood rack, five children’s-sized picnic tables, and clearing the brush from the area where the tables sit at Middletown United Methodist Church and Learning Path Preschool.

Wolfe graduated Middletown High School North in 2022 and is in his first year at Brookdale Community College. His Eagle project was to build an obstacle course for therapeutic mini horses to prepare them to go into hospitals and buildings on behalf of the Kenneth Tietjen Memorial Foundation, a nonprofit organization to honor the memory of Port Authority Police Officer Kenny Tietjen who sacrificed his life on Sept. 11, 2001.

Founded in 1956, the leadership of BSA Troop 32 believes teaching a boy outdoor skills, self-reliance, respect for nature, and respect for others, while promoting community service increases his ability to give back to his family, his country and himself. Troop 32 provides an active outdoor program and reinforces the ideals put forth by the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Troop 32 believes strongly in giving back to the community, which includes conducting food drives for local pantries, participating in civic events, and completing Eagle projects aimed specifically to assist local organizations. For more information about Boy Scout Troop 32, visit RiverPlaza32.mytroop.us.