NCAC Scout Wins Local and State SAR Eagle Scholarship

Ethan Morlu of NCAC Troop 1369, chartered by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7916, is an accomplished Eagle Scout and citizen. His application and essay earned First Place with the COL William Grayson Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and again at the SAR State level competition for Virginia.

Ethan got involved in Scouting in preschool by tagging along at his older brother’s Cub Scout Pack meetings. He spoke very fondly about his earlier memories in Scouting ” I had so much fun spending time with my older brother’s den, learning both scouting skills and doing quirky activities. We made air vortex cannons and chased each other around shooting rings of smoke. I also loved the energy of the monthly Pow Wows, where they would host a raffle, announce achievements, and the different groups would put on skits. The pack was also very welcoming to families, letting siblings build and race pinewood derby cars in the annual race. Due to how much I enjoyed my time tagging along to meetings, I was so excited when my mother decided to sign me up for the program.”

Ethan has been involved in Scouting ever since, holding several leadership positions in his Troop. Ultimately Etahn decided to pursue his Eagle Scout rank, completing environmental projects for a local Middle School. Ethan was introduced to the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) when he was presented his Eagle Scout SAR certificate at his troop’s court of honor by Tim Cline.

The SAR’s Eagle Scout Scholarship competition began in 1980 and is composed of three parts – an essay, an application whose criteria includes leadership, merit badges, and volunteering; and a four generation Ancestor chart. Tim Cline leads the competition for the Col William Grayson Chapter of the SAR which covers the Sully, Patriot, and Prince William Districts of NCAC. This is the third year in a row the winner of the Virginia State level competition came from NCAC and the Col William Grayson SAR Chapter! The SAR supports the local community in many ways by providing historic preservation of sites and artifacts related to the American Revolution, providing Color Guards in Continental or Militia uniforms for meetings or events such as Wreaths Across America, and presenting to student youth groups about the American flag just to name a few.

With encouragement from Tim and the SAR Eagle Scout Scholarship team, Ethan began to write his essay. Ethan recalled:

“My essay was about Jeremiah O’Brien and the capture of the Margaretta. This was a naval skirmish that took place after the townsfolk of Machias, Maine, had set up a liberty tree celebrating the victories at Lexington and Concord. A British ship accompanying a merchant ship threatened to raze the town to the ground if they did not remove the liberty tree. The town responded by rallying behind O’Brien, commandeering the merchant ship, and capturing the British ship in a naval battle. I had never heard of Jeremiah O’Brien before drafting this essay, much less the Battle of Machias. To me, it seemed like an obscure part of the Revolutionary War that was important for others to know about. I also felt as though it was a perfect example of how the fight for liberty was each colonist’s responsibility and is something important to fight for.”

When asked what he learned most during his scholarship application process Ethan shared “With each scholarship, I have to transcribe my experiences, successes, and growth on paper, and seriously examine where I’ve come from and where I am going in life. I’ve found that I’ve come to appreciate the aspects of research and introspection that comes with the process. This scholarship has once again reminded me of how I’ve spent much of my life helping others and improving myself in the process. It also reminded me that despite my tendency to dwell on my failures, I have accomplished a lot to be proud of. I also have strong support from my family and other mentors who have watched me grow over the years and shaped me to be the person I am today. Winning this scholarship makes me feel blessed to know people want me to succeed and are helping me along the way.

Ethan is now studying Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He continues to be a scholar and a leader working diligently through his courses. He explained “Throughout my years in scouting, I’ve spent a lot of time developing my leadership. I attended National Youth Leadership Training at Impeesa when I was 13 and served as Instructor, Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader, Junior Assistant Scoutmaster, and now Assistant Scoutmaster over the course of my time with my troop. This leadership has been instrumental as I’ve gone into college, knowing when to step up and lead while working on team projects. Additionally, scouting has helped instill a strong moral compass within me through the scout law and oath, giving me a guide for navigating situations and finding people who share my values. Heading into my future, I will be able to become a leader in industry, implementing the values that I gained through scouting.”

Ethan and his brother, Nathan Morlu, were also among the 13 service-minded students across the U.S. and Canada who were chosen for the Chick-Fil-A Scholars Inaugural Class. Chick-fil-A, Inc. has awarded more than $25 million in scholarships in 2023, investing in higher education for more than 13,000 restaurant team members, and now for the first time, outstanding community members. Read more at https://www.chick-fil-a.com/stories/inside-chick-fil-a/community-members-surprised-with-scholarships

NCAC Congratulates Ethan, Nathan and the entire Morlu family on these amazing accomplishments!

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