Fair Havenite Michael Frissora has soared to the Boy Scouts of America’s Eagle Scout rank.

The award of the status, the highest attainment in scouting, was conferred by BSA Troop 67 Scoutmaster Michael Maier at a Court of Honor on Jan. 8 at Tower Hill First Presbyterian Church in Red Bank.

For his service project, an Eagle Scout requirement, Michael returned to his school roots and gave back to Viola L. Sickles School where he began his education.

Michael’s project was a large garden constructed of recycled wooden pallets and located on a 1,000 square foot lot adjacent to the school. Many current and former scouts and parent volunteers assisted in the creation of the garden last May.

It is designed to produce vegetables, herbs, and flowering plants while offering learning opportunities for present and future pre-K through third grade students at Sickles.

The project was championed by Sickles School Principal Cheryl Cuddihy and also by Media Specialist June Sustick, who will continue to help maintain the garden.

“Mrs. Cuddihy and I had discussed creating a garden, so we were thrilled when Michael called to ask her about the possibility of creating a garden at our school as his Eagle Scout project,” said Sustick. “Michael is such a great person, so hardworking and dedicated. We thank Michael and his team for our school garden, a place where we plan to keep growing and learning.”

Principal Cuddihy spoke at Michael’s Eagle Scout Ceremony, praising his initiative and the great potential of the garden. Cuddihy noted that students attending a program at the school this past summer were able to “proudly harvest and serve” the vegetables, and that a hydroponic garden is a real possibility in the future.

“Michael’s garden truly embodies the idea of education taking root and growing with each passing season,” she said. “His garden has set the footprint upon which our students will be able to nurture and develop their thinking while being environmental stewards. We are so grateful to both Michael and his family for spearheading this project for our school community.”

About Michael Frissora …

Michael began his scouting career in Cub Scout Pack 127 in Fair Haven. As a member of Boy Scouts of America Troop 67, he was awarded the leadership positions of assistant senior patrol leader, Patrol Leader, and Spaghetti Dinner Coordinator. He earned 21 Merit Badges and was given the Troop 67 William R. Blair Jr. Award.

Michael graduated from Knollwood School in Fair Haven in 2012 and from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) in Rumson in 2016. His scholastic and sports achievements include: Shore Sports Network Player of the Week (Baseball), Distinguished Honor in Science Award, National Honor Society, French Honor Society, High Honor Roll, Math League Captain, Viola L. Sickles Memorial Scholarship Award, and Frank W. Baigent Award for Scholarship.

He is the son of Katy and Tony Frissora of Fair Haven, and currently attend Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken.

The rank of Eagle is achieved by less than four percent of scouts, or one in 25, nationwide. Requirements include progression through the scouting ranks known as the Trail to Eagle, an extensive review process, and the successful completion of an extensive service project that the scout plans, organizes, leads, and manages.

Eagle scouts are expected to set an example for other scouts and to become the leaders in life that they have demonstrated themselves to be in scouting. They are highly represented in the military, service academies, higher education and academia, and in business, politics, and the clergy. Famous Eagle Scouts include astronauts Neil Armstrong and James Lovell, Olympians Willie Banks and Steve Holcomb, and former U.S. President Gerald Ford.

— Edited press release from the Fair Haven School District