Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Schmitz, Slenczka, Muench, Schoessow, Morrow, Jacobs, Bedell
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 12/21/2022
Schmitz, Kolin-Joins Prestigious Eagle Ranks (2022)
Neillsville Scout Joins Prestigious Eagle Ranks
By Edward DuBois
After years of toiling away to overcome every obstacle life had put in his way, of which he was very cognizant of as he addressed those gathered in his honor, Kolin Schmitz of Neillsville was promoted to the rank of Eagle Scout in a Dec. 11 honors ceremony.
The American Legion hosted Eagle Scout Troop 43 Court of Honor followed by a dinner.
“It has been our honor as scout leaders to see him grow and mature from a Tiger scout to an Eagle scout,” Glenn Slenczka said, starting out the ceremony. “It has been a tremendous journey for him.”
The master of ceremonies, Bill Muench, spoke next.
Muench invited Pastor Dan Schoessow to speak. The pastor quoted Psalms 8 entirely, saying it reflected Schmitz.
“O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
“Out of the mouth of babes and suckling’s hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightiest still the enemy and the avenger.
“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visits him?
“For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor.
“Thou made him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
“All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
“The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passes through the paths of the seas.
“O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!”
The ceremony of candles took place to signify the fundamentals of scouting, the three candles representing the scouts’ oath, motto and slogan, and their meanings.
Judy Morrow then led the other scouts and leaders in reading the 12 points of scout law.
All these were laid out to show the tenants Schmitz had not only needed to obey while on trips and such, but live by even when nobody was watching, a core part of integrity.
Matthew Jacobs told everyone gathered about Schmitz’s trail to Eagle Scout, the journey to his achievement. Each rank required a both time spent in that rank and a growing list of activities and responsibilities that built on ones from previous ranks.
Schmitz started as a tenderfoot scout when he was five-years old, doing things like memorizing the scout oath and law. After being active in Troop 43 for two months and showing his scout spirit each day, he earned the rank of second-class scout.
Next was the rank of first-class scout, earned by Schmitz learning different breeds of livestock, helping cook meals on campouts, and demonstrating orienteering and first aid skills, among others. Many had to do with basic survival or life skills.
Star Scout was the next rank Schmitz reached after earning six more badges, like in photography and fishing, six hours of community service, and serving at least four months in a troop leadership position, which he did as a librarian.
Schmitz was promoted to life scout for earning five more merit badges, including in life skills like personal finance and metal working, and completing six hours of community service projects, all the while serving as an assistant patrol leader.
To cap it all off, Schmitz achieved eagle scout rank after he earned another 10 merit badges, served in a troop leadership position (again, as an assistant patrol leader,) and planned, developed, and gave leadership to others in a service project.
Schmitz designed a welcoming space at the city cemetery for everyone to come to pray, remember and reflect.
Once the extent of Schmitz’s journey was laid out, his mother, Shelly, presented a slideshow of much of what her son had gone through to get to where he was. The pictures were set to a soundtrack, beginning with Green Day’s “Good Riddance”—an ironically named song that, despite the rude-sounding title, is a well-intentioned and heartful way to say goodbye to someone,—and including a county cover of Canned Meat’s “Let’s Work Together.”
“Kolin, it sure looks like you really enjoyed your time scouting,” Muench said once the slideshow finished.
Next came the eagle charge, where Dave Bedell officially bestowed Schmitz with the responsibility of an eagle scout. After, Schmitz presented his parents, Shelly and Kevin, with miniature eagle scout pins. The speech pointed out several traits characteristic of eagle scouts, such as courage.
Schmitz’s parents were recognized for all the hard work they had done to help their son achieve this honor, supporting him all the way to helping him write his acceptance speech.
After his parents were recognized, Schmitz’s mother was handed his official eagle badge for her to pin to his left-breast pocket’s flap.
Once the speeches were concluded, Kolin Schmitz (r) receives his eagle scout badge, pinned to his uniform by his mother, Shelly (m), at the Eagle Scout Court of Honor on Dec. 11. Edward DuBois/Clark County Press
Schmitz then presented a mentor’s pin to his Special Olympics coach, Dean Blaze.
The presentations were complete once the certificate and neckerchief were bestowed upon Schmitz, who thanked his fellow scouts for their comradery and asked those who helped him with his leadership project to stand for a round of applause, showing the selfless kindness many had spoken about during the ceremony.
Schmitz said, in the first grade, he was attending an open house and came across a booth set up for the cub scouts, manned by Morrow. It inspired him to join the scouts.
He mentioned his eagle scout project was the hardest challenge he had ever undertaken and overcame it with the help of those he had previously sold popcorn to in efforts to raise money for the troop.
Currently, Schmitz is enrolled in Project search to allow him an extra year in high school and plans to attend Mid-State Technical College in Wisconsin Rapids to study the culinary arts.
Schmitz had to apply for Project Search, and a condition of his enrollment was he would have to complete three internships over the extra year, and he has already completed one.
There is no doubt the skills and values Schmitz learned in his 13 years in the scouts will be needed to rise to the challenge of the degree he wishes to pursue. Even a restaurant’s kitchen needs a head chef to led, after all, and the courage and determination to face any fears of failure are direly needed in fields as competitive as that.
There is no doubt Schmitz has a strong support network that will see him, and his dreams, to fruition.
