LITTLE SILVER – Carey Neff achieved two important milestones in June – graduation from Red Bank Regional High School (RBR) with a multitude of honors and achieving his Eagle Scout rank, the highest level of Boy Scouts.
Neff is a member of Boy Scout Troop 126 in Little Silver. He earned 22 merit badges during his long career in Boy Scouts.
Neff designed and coordinated the planting of a garden in Memorial Park in Little Silver for his project. The park is dedicated to the town’s war veterans and residents who perished on 9/11.
With the aid of professional landscaper Mark Butler, a design was developed to incorporate perennials, shrubs and other plants. Neff then sought approval for the plan from the Little Silver Town Council and Shade Tree Commission. He did fundraising to cover the cost of topsoil, mulch, moss stone and the plant materials. With the help of 30 volunteers, including fellow Scouts, family and friends, the garden was transformed in one Saturday afternoon through 150-man hours.
“I really wanted to find a way to give back to my community, and thought this would be a great way to also honor the memories of those who served and died for our country,” Neff said.
The Scout, who also excelled in high school as a scholar, athlete and leader, gained acceptance to the honor societies for English, Spanish, Tri-M Music as well as the National Honor Societies.
He earned the coveted International Baccalaureate diploma as a student in the school’s Academy of Social Justice and International Studies.
He represented RBR at the prestigious Boys State Conference and was also selected as a peer tutor and officer in the Student-to-Student Peer Leadership program mentoring freshmen. Neff also represented RBR in the Model UN program.
As an athlete, he played football and lacrosse. His musical talents found an outlet as a four-year band section leader playing the baritone horn and as a member of the school jazz band. He represented RBR for three years as a member of the honor All Shore Band and played for the shore community as a volunteer in the New Jersey Adult Musicians Mentoring (NJAAMS) organization.
He also served an internship as a sports reporter for The Two River Times™.
Neff now heads off to the University of Michigan where he intends to study sport management for a possible career as a sports agent someday. Law school may also factor into his future plans.
He claims that much of his accomplishments relate to the lessons he learned in Boy Scouts. “Scouting taught me how to be a leader and a responsible member of my community. It has influenced my life and pointed me in the right direction to success,” he said.
