Bridesburg native and Troop 120 member earns Eagle Scout.
By Melissa Komar
While Nikolas Korn, 15, may seem like your average teenager, he recently joined the ranks of some 2 million others, which includes a U.S. president, a former Phillies player, and the first man on the moon.
In October, Korn became the third member of Bridesburg’s Boy Scouts Troop 120 to attain Eagle Scout.
His Eagle Court of Honor Ceremony was held on Saturday, March 9,
Korn joined Troop 120 when he was about 10, following in the footsteps of his older brother.
“I’ve always been around scouts. My older brother, Alexander, who I gave my mentor’s pin to, was a scout,” he said. “I’ve always been around older scouts such as him and his friends who really inspired me to make Eagle.”
Being around the older scouts instilled a friendly, but competitive nature in Korn.
“I wanted to do something a little different. I wanted to make it before all of them,” he said. “I guess it was just me being competitive, but I felt if I did it [early], I’d have a leg up in the world.”
The average age for a a member of Boy Scouts to attain the rank from 2009 to 2016 was approximately 17, according to the Boy Scouts of America Scouting magazine.
Korn was 14 when he officially attained the rank of Eagle Scout.
“I was very honored to make the rank,” he said. “Due to my age, I was actually expecting them not to allow me to be an Eagle Scout.”
And, while earning the rank at a young age is something he is proud of, he’s quick to point to his brother as an inspiration.
“When I first joined, he showed me the ropes,” Korn said of his older brother, who is 21. “I chose him because he was the one who got me into scouting in the first place and he always guided me through life and scouting.”
Troop 120 is just as proud of Korn for attaining Eagle Scout at his age.
“He is our youngest so far, he worked really hard to get it done early,” said Jodi Brabazon, assistant scoutmaster. “We as a Troop are very excited to see what Nikolas’s future has in store for him both in our Troop and his personal life as well.”
In order to make Eagle, Korn had to earn 21 badges.
The most challenging badge to attain was personal fitness.
“It was probably the hardest because I actually did the work. It is three months straight of working out and keeping your body in shape,” Korn said. “I ran a mile almost every day during the week. I did sit-ups every day. I did push-ups every day. And, I lifted weights.”
The three months, albeit grueling, presented a learning experience.
“It inspired me to better myself and it opened my eyes as to how unhealthy people are today and why I should try my best to stay as healthy as I can,” he said.
In addition to earning 21 badges, any Boy Scout wanting to make Eagle Scout must complete an Eagle Scout service project, which must benefit the community and showcase the scout’s leadership.
“I scraped and painted the wrought iron fences surrounding the perimeter of Saint John Cantius,” he said. “I did it mostly myself and with my father, Allen Korn, but one Saturday, I had my troop come and help me.”
It took Korn about three months to complete the project.
“I wanted to do something that would last and better the community,” he said. “I decided what better place would there be to do it than a place of worship.”
Korn is familiar with the campus: He attended Pope John Paul II School before transferring to Blessed Trinity after a merge.
Outside of Boy Scouts, Korn is a freshman at Franklin Towne Charter High School, where he participates in the Franklin Towne Charter Historical Society.
Although it may still be early to think about life beyond high school, Korn already has his sights set on the future.
“What I’m striving to do is become an astrophysicist. I really like space and studying astrophysics in my free time.”
And, continue being a scout.
“I’d like to stay involved in scouting as long as I can,” he said. “I’m not only honored, but I have this sense of pride because I know now more people are going to expect more from me now that I’m an Eagle Scout. Because I have this expectation I’ll have to fill, it’s going to make me a better person in the long run.”
