Eli Holland Earns Eagle Scout Rank

Nantucket Boy Scout Troop 97 honored yet another one of their own for achieving Eagle Scout status during a ceremony at the Masonic Lodge on Main Street Wednesday evening. Eli Holland, a senior at Nantucket High School, became the 11th island scout to earn his Eagle status since 2022.

"Eli, from an early age, you have always known who you are," Eli's father, Tucker Holland, emotionally told his son during the ceremony. "It is a great strength, and it will continue to serve you well. It has been a great gift to watch you grow and become the young man you are. Reaching Eagle was always part of your destiny. You are the first Eagle Scout in the Holland family, yet it didn't happen without a lot of work. As you head off to college this fall and wherever your life journey takes you, we hope you will hold with you always the values and joys that scouting has instilled in you. Eli, we congratulate you on this remarkable achievement. Beyond being our son, an Eagle Scout, and an all-around good person alongside your brothers and your sister, you're our hero and we love you very, very much."

Across the country, only four percent of scouts achieve Eagle Scout status. Holland’s Eagle Scout project was the creation and installation of fishing regulation signage at several freshwater ponds across Nantucket including Hummock Pond, Long Pond, Miacomet Pond, and Maxcy’s Pond. The Land & Water Council is also interested in working with Holland to expand the project in the future.

Holland received a letter from Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, certificate of recognition from state senator Elizabeth Warren, and a letter from Rep. Thomas Moakley.

Scouting was established on Nantucket in 1925 and only 57 island scouts - including Holland - have achieved the Eagle Scout rank.

Since 2022, 11 of those 57 scouts have earned the Eagle Scout rank - a credit to Troop Leader Jason Zinser and the rest of the scout leaders for their work with the young men rising through the ranks, as well as the discipline and determination of these Eagle Scouts to reach this significant milestone.

"It takes a community to raise a child and if that child is lucky, the community has scouting to give them a compass for life," Tucker Holland said. "Troop master Jason Zinser.... troop leaders Jeff Fox, Rob Graves, Eric Johnson, Keith Mansfield, Brian Potter, Devin Remick, Matt Roberts, Mike Wilson, Chris Young.... and pack leaders Anna Ribeiro, Brian Potter, Christie Baker, David Buckley, Jay Rayner, Homer Ray, Dalton Frazier, Stephanie Renner and Jolene Eller..... thank you for giving Eli and all the scouts assembled here that compass. Thank you to all the friends and family who have supported Eli on his life's journey. We are forever grateful."

Below are the island students who have earned their Eagle Scout rank since 2022.

08/25/22: Gabriel Zinser

8/25/22: Jeremy Caspe

11/05/22: Quinn Keating

02/02/23: Reuben Eldridge

07/17/23: Colin Lynch

07/17/23: Owen Wilson

11/04/23: Tomas Young

01/20/24: Timothy Sullivan

08/01/24: Forbes Keating

12/16/24: Benjamin Zinser

01/25/25: Elijah Holland

To earn Eagle, one must climb seven Scouting ranks, earn 21 merit badges, complete an Eagle Service Project, become a leader within their troop, and prepare their final Eagle Scout Binder.

All photos taken by David Creed.