Three local Scouts earn Eagle Scout Award

Christian Allemang (left), Viet Tran (center) and Lars Knudsen (right) of Troop 542 in Maple Glen received the Eagle Scout Award, the highest rank attainable in Scouts BSA, at a recent Court of Honor ceremony held at Supplee Presbyterian Church. In addition, each Scout received a citation from State Rep. Todd Stephens and an American flag from a representative for U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick.

Christian Allemang began his Scouting career with Troop 542 in 2012 and held the leadership roles of den chief and assistant patrol leader. As a den chief for Cub Scout Pack 410, he assisted the 2014 Tiger den with planned requirements and helped his Cub Scouts attain the Arrow of Light award in 2019. Allemang earned 32 merit badges and the Triple Crown of National High Adventure award for attending three Boy Scouts of America High Adventure programs.

For his Eagle project, Allemang renovated and expanded a 10-foot bridge over a small creek in Graeme Park in Horsham. The project took place in the fall of 2018 and totaled 280 hours. The completed 20-foot-long footbridge now is safer in location and strength. Allemang is in his freshman year at the University of Hartford, where he plans to major in mechanical engineering.

Viet Tran began his Scouting career with Troop 542 in 2012 and held leadership roles including assistant instructor, patrol leader, troop guide and junior assistant scoutmaster. He earned 25 merit badges as well as the Triple Crown of National High Adventure award for attending Northern Tier High Adventure Base, Florida National High Adventure Sea Base, and Paul R. Christen National High Adventure Base at The Summit. He also attended the 2017 National Scout Jamboree.

Tran’s Eagle project was the design and construction of three portable chalkboards for the playground at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The project took 200 hours to complete with the majority of the time spent in the planning stages due to strict safety regulations for playground equipment. Tran currently studies biomedical engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Lars Knudsen earned 47 merit badges, five palms, and held many roles in Troop 542, including patrol ecologist, outdoor ethics guide, patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, and junior assistant scoutmaster. He attended Philmont Scout Ranch in 2016 and 2019, the National Scout Jamboree in 2017, Northern Tier High Adventure Base in 2019, and sailed in the Florida Keys in 2019. Knudsen received the Triple Crown of National High Adventure Award and the Roy Imsick Service award in 2019.

Knudsen’s Eagle project was the construction of a 12×16-foot pavilion at Pennypack Farms in Horsham, which required more than 300 hours to complete. Located in the children’s garden, the pavilion will serve as a site for educational programs for Pennypack Farm and College Settlement Camp. Knudsen will graduate from Hatboro-Horsham High School in June 2020 and plans to pursue an education in aerospace engineering.

Scouts BSA Troop 542, based at Supplee Presbyterian Church in Maple Glen, PA, has more than 100 youth members. Since its start in 1969, 176 Scouts from Troop 542 have earned the rank of Eagle.

Photo: Troop 542 in Maple Glen