Troop 210 scouts achieve Eagle Scout rank

Saturday, May 30, was a day of celebration at the First United Methodist Church of Winter Garden. 

In the church’s sanctuary room, dozens of people eagerly awaited to see three Boy Scouts recognized for achieving the Eagle Scout rank, the highest rank achievable in Scouting America.

Brett Sellers, Brett Friedman and Sawyer Steed have been a part of Scout Troop 210 for years, working to achieve the Eagle Scout rank. 

While the journey wasn’t easy, they did it. 

Lighting candles representative of the 12 principals of core values in the Scout Law, the three scouts reminded the audience what a scout truly is: A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.

Scouts were presented with their Eagle Scout badges and honored their parents along the way, thanking them for the dedication and commitment throughout their journey. 

“It’s a big deal,” Troop 210 Scoutmaster Albert Barron said. “That’s the first time they actually got to wear their medal, and they got their patch issued to them. It’s a celebration, really.” 

As a Scoutmaster, Barron is beyond proud of Sellers, Steed and Friedman. 

His job is to help scouts develop not only outdoor skills, but mental, spiritual and leadership skills, as well. 

To him, his job is about teaching these young men to become leaders so they can go out into communities and be productive — make change.

And through their journey to Eagle Scout, they already have made a difference. 

Sellers, Steed and Friedman all executed service projects. 

As part of his project, Sellers restored an outdoor classroom at Christian Child Center, allowing students and teachers to enjoy the outdoors while also creating a different and safe learning environment for children. 

His mother, also a teacher at the center, thanked him for his work and the impact he has made at the school. 

“This was my dream for a long time, so it’s pretty awesome,” Sellers said. 

Not only did he get to live his dream, but also he did it while being in the top of his class at Apopka High School. 

“Brett Sellers has been a true outdoorsman for many years, but he became a little unmotivated with scouting trying to balance that with school,” Barron said. “He asked me one day, ‘Mr. Barron: It’s my dream to be an Eagle Scout. Can I sit down with you and talk about what we can do, what you can do to help me and what I can do to help myself?’ We sat down, we put a plan together and … he executed the plan flawlessly. Not only did he execute the plan flawlessly, he also did it while being No. 1 in his class, and recently graduating as valedictorian.”

Similarly, Friedman built a garden at SunRidge Middle School for its Vision Inspires Possibilities program. 

His garden is more than a garden. It’s an extension of the program. 

The program is designed to empower students with unique abilities by promoting acceptance, independence and inclusive community engagement. 

Friedman’s garden is doing just that. 

Students are planting, maintaining and caring for the garden, which in turn, instills confidence, strong work ethic and essential skills necessary in the workplace. 

Friedman always knew he was going to become an Eagle Scout and is proud of what he has accomplished and learned along the way. 

His grandfather achieved Eagle Scout Rank from Troop 210 in 1954, and Friedman wanted to follow in his footsteps. 

“It’s almost bittersweet,” Friedman said. “I put in so much work and I finally got into this rank, but I know my involvement will decrease. At the same time, it’s really nice to do what my grandfather did — earn Eagle Scout.” 

Steed built a pathway leading up to the education center at Oakland Nature Preserve. 

Through his service project, staff and visitors now can easily and safely reach the center. 

“Sawyer Steed is so kind and helpful,” Barron said. “He always puts others ahead of himself and he’s always very thoughtful about others.” 

Recently, Steed and Friedman were moved to a different role within the troop — troop guide. Their responsibility is to teach all the young scouts the basic skills of the outdoors. 

Sellers was made an assistant scoutmaster, assisting in planning activities, signing off on scouts’ requirements and helping scouts with rank advancements. 

To these three gentlemen, Saturday, May 30, will stay in their hearts and minds forever. 

Sellers, Steed and Friedman were even recognized by Winter Garden Mayor John Rees, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump. 

“It’s not often that you have three Eagle Scouts celebrating at the same time,” Barron said. 

“What I’m most excited about is to watch these young men become future leaders. But I’m also excited about what else they’re going to be able to provide the younger scouts, as far as leadership and guidance.” 

And Sellers, Steed and Friedman already are becoming leaders in their own ways, through communication, preparedness, confidence and inclusiveness. 

This means the world to Barron, not only as their Scoutmaster but also as someone who is trying to preserve the legacy of the 89-year-old troop. 

“We have a program that instills the values of being a true citizen of the community,” Barron said. “We still have a program where we strive to develop young men into leaders. … We allow the youth to really break away from today’s technologies and electronics. … We still have programs that instill the notion that the outdoors is a great place to be. It’s still a program that instills values, core principle values, and it’s a program that really encourages the youth to disconnect and go outside.” 

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