By: Maria Allard | C&G Newspapers | Published July 17, 2024
MACOMB COUNTY/DETROIT — There have been some improvements made in the local community courtesy of a group of dedicated Eagle Scouts that included three sets of siblings.
Since 2021, six members of Troop No. 1402 have completed projects in Detroit, Center Line, Fraser and other parts of Macomb County to earn Eagle Scout status. Troop No. 1402 is chartered by Lt. Wood-Cpl. Reid Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 6691 in Fraser and meets at St Pio of Pietrelcina Catholic Church in Roseville.
The Eagle Scouts are three sets of brother and sister siblings: Roman and Uma Ludwig; Waincey and Wynnis Chan; and Nicho and Alli Sparks. The siblings earned Eagle Scout rank between 2021 and 2023.
The Eagle Scout project is the final requirement to obtain the highest rank within the Boy Scouts of America organization. The project gives the Scouts lessons in community service, leadership, teamwork and project management. There are many steps to earning the rank of Eagle Scout, including making a presentation before the Eagle Board of Review.
The three female Scouts joined Troop No. 1402 Feb 1, 2019, which was the first day the Boy Scouts of America welcomed female youth members. The three young men joined Scouts while in elementary school.
For his Eagle Scout project, Roman Ludwig did storage unit repair and painted music stands for Center Line Public Schools.
Uma Ludwig built a greenhouse for Cadillac Urban Gardens in Detroit.
Waincey Chan’s project benefited Humane Society of Macomb. Her Eagle project included providing a play structure, a crawl tunnel for dogs and two benches for the volunteers to use to rest.
Wynnis Chan built a flower bed and seating for McKinley Barrier Free Park in Fraser.
Nicho Sparks made a Little Free Library for Center Line Public Schools.
Alli Sparks restored a dry creek bed for the Baumgartner House Museum in Fraser.
Lisa Ludwig is Roman Ludwig and Uma Ludwig’s mother and also the committee chair of the troop. Lisa Ludwig said all the Eagle Scouts were recognized at ceremonies.
“It is always amazing to see the positives the youth can put into the world,” Lisa Ludwig said. “The sisters were part of honoring their brothers. The brothers honored their sisters. They were cheering each other on.”
Uma Ludwig has stayed on as a troop member, said Sandra Maki, whose son and daughter are members in the troop.
“Uma is active in mentoring the new girls coming in,” Maki said. “I think that speaks volumes of Uma’s character and Lisa’s parenting. She just didn’t get an Eagle and leave. All six of them are incredible.”
They are all highly accomplished.
Roman Ludwig has 39 badges and has been a quartermaster, assistant senior patrol leader and senior patrol leader. He backpacked for 12 days while attending Philmont Scout Ranch in the Rocky Mountains. He was a member of the Center Line High School band and is studying at Macomb Community College to earn a welding certificate.
Uma Ludwig earned Eagle rank at age 15. She has earned close to 90 badges, has been a patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader and senior patrol leader. This fall, she will be a senior at Center Line High School, where she has played volleyball. She was a Girl Scout before she joined Boy Scouts.
Waincey Chan has 61 merit badges, been a senior patrol leader, and earned her Eagle rank in just two years. She is a Fraser High School graduate and attended the Macomb Mathematics Science Technology Center in Warren Consolidated Schools. She is an honor student at Michigan State University working on a dual degree in criminal justice and human biology, aiming to become a forensic scientist.
Wynnis Chan has 42 merit badges and Scout positions held include scribe, patrol leader and historian. He is a 2024 Fraser High School graduate. He is a student at Macomb Community College studying premed. He was awarded the 2023 FAME (Fraser Academy Member of Excellence) award by the Eastpointe and Roseville Chamber of Commerce. His Eagle project also won the Keep Michigan Beautiful Inc. 2023 Michigan award. The award ceremony will be in October 2024.
Nicho Sparks has 46 merit badges and was a senior patrol leader. He is studying media communication at Lawrence Technological University.
Alli Sparks has 31 merit badges, has the Scout World Conservation Award and is a 2023 Stevenson High School graduate. According to her Scouts bio, she was quite the athlete in high school, participating in swimming, wrestling, tennis and track.
Currently, there are 22 members of Troop No. 1402, 14 male and eight female. New members are always welcome. The group meets 7-8:30 p.m. Fridays at St Pio of Pietrelcina Catholic Church, 18720 13 Mile Road in Roseville. For more information, visit the Troop No. 1402 Facebook page.