The National Jewish Committee on Scouting is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Eagle Scout Scholarships. If you or a Jewish Scout you know would like to be considered for one of four scholarships, please review the Eagle Scout Scholarship application instructions.
Erin Handelsman
Saratoga, California
Chester Frank L. Weil Eagle Scout Scholarship ($5,000)
With a Scouting career that began in the fifth grade, Erin earned her Eagle Scout rank at 13, one of the youngest to achieve that rank in the inaugural class. Through Scouting, Erin has learned leadership skills and the importance of serving her community. For her Eagle Scout project, she and a team of Scouts built four benches that were then placed in an outside courtyard of her synagogue. She also raised funds, organized and assembled over 200 hygiene kits to needy families through local shelters. Deeply committed to her Jewish faith, she interned for two years at the Hillel of Stanford University, founded her high school’s Jewish Student Union and is the teen representative on her synagogue’s board of directors. With a keen interest in business and marketing, Erin will be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she plans on double majoring in Business and Sports Administration. She is the first female recipient of a Jewish Eagle Scout Scholarship from the NJCOS.
Benjamin Lesczynski
New York, New York
Chester A. Vernon Eagle Scout Scholarship ($5,000)
A native of the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Benjamin has enjoyed Scouting from the earliest of Cub Scout ranks to that of the highest of Eagle Scout. During the challenging period of COVID, Benjamin’s troop lost its charter partner, but his synagogue – Town and Village – stepped in, allowing Benjamin to continue in his rank advancement. As a Scout, he occupied various positions including Bugler, Chaplain’s Aide and Senior Patrol Leader and presently serves as an Assistant Scoutmaster. Outside of Scouting, he enjoys playing bass guitar, practicing Brazilian Jiu Jisu and hunting. With a major interest in technology throughout his life, Benjamin is now studying Computer Engineering at The City College of New York.
Samuel Sult
Hewlett, New York
Frank L. Weil Memorial Eagle Scout Scholarship ($5,000)
Samuel has earned all of the available Jewish religious emblems (Maccabee, Aleph, Ner Tamid and Etz Chaim) during his very active Scouting career. An Eagle Scout, he has earned 66 Merit Badges and an impressive nine Eagle Scout Palm Awards as well as two Council All Faith Awards for both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. A recipient of the National Outdoor Award and the Grand Slam of High Adventure, Samuel is Senior Patrol Leader of his Scouts BSA troop, Boatswain of a Sea Scout Ship in Freeport, New York, the President of a Venturing crew in East Rockaway and a member of another Venturing Crew in Wantagh. He has completed a number of leadership and training courses including ILSS at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, the “University of Sea Scouting” at SUNY Maritime College, NYLT and NAYLE at The Summit Brechtel Family Scout Reserve. A Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow, he has twice served as a NOAC delegate, has been chair of his lodge’s election team and is a key member of the ceremonial team. He is enrolled at the State University of New York, where he will begin a program in Adolescent Education on his way towards earning a bachelor’s degree and certification as a history/social studies teacher.
Dylan Deane
Canaan, Connecticut
Rick Arkans Eagle Scout Scholarship ($5,000)
While Dylan grew up in a blended family, his parents kept him grounded in his Jewish faith and supported him, despite the fact that his local community lacked a synagogue. Following his bar mitzvah, he became a Chaplain’s Aide for his troop for two years and during the challenging COVID period earned his Ner Tamid Religious Emblem. A member of the Future Farmers of America, Dylan was selected to be Chaplain of his chapter. He elected to have his Eagle Scout Court of Honor held on the anniversary date of his bar mitzvah and involved his family rabbi in the ceremonies. Dylan ultimately plans to study Sports Communication at the University of New Haven following a year at a local community college.