By Edward Lynn
EAGLE GROVE – In a ceremony filled with tradition and reflection, Eagle Scouts Michael Umthun and Andrew Vaughn were formally recognized at the Eagle Scout Court of Honor on Saturday at Memorial Hall in Eagle Grove. The two close friends stood before family, mentors, and fellow scouts to celebrate their remarkable journeys through Scouting.
Vaughn set two new local records, achieving the prestigious Eagle Scout rank in just two and a half years while earning an unprecedented 76 merit badges. His rapid advancement and dedication were recognized as an inspiration to his peers.
“I came into the troop and I told the leaders I wanted to achieve,” Vaughn said in a previous interview, reflecting on his journey. “I love getting all the merit badges that I can.” His father, Jay Thomas, praised his son’s efforts, emphasizing the dedication required. “He put in a lot of work, but I told him, ‘you’ve got to stay humble.” But, Thomas also noted, “today is not about staying humble.”
For Umthun, the ceremony marked the culmination of over a decade in scouting. His journey, which began as a Cub Scout, was filled with experiences that shaped him into a leader. “Scouting has been my consistent companion,” Umthun said in his speech. “It has taught me the value of hard work, perseverance, and commitment to service.” He thanked his family, mentors, and fellow scouts for their unwavering support, acknowledging their role in his achievement.
Scoutmaster Rick Dawson, who has guided both young men throughout their scouting careers, reflected on their accomplishments. “The proof is in the Scout,” Dawson said in his speech. “This is the way they act. This is the way they hold themselves … A real scout is a person who CAN and IS and DOES. The CAN is in the skills that the person (has). A scout CAN find their way through the woods. A scout CAN make fire in torrential downpour rains. A scout CAN give first aid. A scout IS part of something bigger. A Scout IS (under) the Scout Law. A scout IS trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.” What a scout does, Dawson said, is embodied in the Scout Law, and the Scout Motto, “be prepared,” and “on my honor, I will do my best.” He lauded both scouts for embodying these values. “The uniform isn’t what makes a scout,” Dawson noted, “it is the scout inside the uniform.”
The ceremony included traditional elements such as the Eagle Scout Pledge, the presentation of mentor pins, and a heartfelt moment where parents placed the Eagle Scout neckerchiefs on their sons.
“He’s a real go-getter,” Vaughn’s mother Melissa Vaughn said of her son. And of all his hard work to earn all those merit badges in record time? “He loves doing it,” Mrs. Vaughn said. “He loves all the scouts and all the help they give him too.”
Ken and Rhonda Umthun also shared their feelings as they watched their son reach this milestone. “I couldn’t be prouder,” Ken Umthun said. “Michael has grown into an incredible young man through Scouting.” Rhonda Umthun, overcome with emotion, struggled to pin the award on her son, a moment that resonated with many in attendance. “It doesn’t seem like it’s happened already,” she said. “Long time coming. 11 years.”
Both young men shared their plans for the future. Umthun intends to pursue a career in HVAC while continuing to mentor younger scouts. Vaughn plans to enter the field of welding and hopes to give back to scouting by earning mentor pins in the years ahead.
Nancy Strub, representing the Eagle Grove Lions Club, which sponsors the troop, praised the program’s impact on the scouts and the community. “The leadership in this community is phenomenal,” Strub said. “These boys have explored so many different things they wouldn’t have otherwise.”
As the ceremony concluded, Pastor Phil Web delivered a benediction, reminding all in attendance of the values that scouting instills. “May these young men continue to reflect the ideals of the Scout Law in all they do,” he said.
With applause and cheers, the Court of Honor ended, but the legacy of Vaughn and Umthun’s achievements will endure, setting an example for future scouts in Eagle Grove.
