A leader, a go-getter, a good Samaritan. The adjectives Summit Academy – Toledo Principal Marquita Murphy uses to describe senior Hunter Spioch help explain how the 18-year-old has met all the requirements necessary to reach the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts of America: Eagle Scout.
As someone who prefers backwoods to ballfields, tomahawks to tennis balls, a bow over a baseball, Hunter says scouting has always been the right fit for him. He remembers, early on as a five-year-old Cub Scout, looking forward to the Tuesday Erie Shores Council Troop 199 meetings at 6 p.m. at the Maumee United Methodist Church. Hunter’s father, Glenn, has been ever-by his side with a show of support, as a parent, a cub master, den chief and troop leader in various capacities over the past 13 years, as well as a former scout himself.
“Scouting brings boys the opportunity to reach goals; it teaches them to start something, make a plan and finish it. That’s a big deal,” says Glenn, pointing to the skill-building aspects of scouting, which range from saving lives to making meals. He adds that scouting tends to run in the family. Three of Hunter’s cousins are Eagle Scouts as well as his older brother, who is a leader in scouting.
Over Hunter’s past dozen years in scouting, he has earned 40 (and counting) merit badges. He also has earned four Eagle Palms, which are awarded to scouts who earn five or more merit badges beyond the 21 required to become an Eagle Scout. In addition, as a Cub Scout, Hunter received the Arrow of Light award, the highest rank in Cub scouting. He was also awarded the prestigious Medal of Merit in 2015. Hunter received the honor for coming to the aid of a classmate who was having a seizure.
“He could have had a lot worse outcome, or even died,” says Hunter, who came to the boy’s rescue by resting his head on his lap to provide a buffer during the seizure, so he wouldn’t strike the floor.
Hunter brings his altruistic style in everyday encounters. He doesn’t need a badge of honor as a reward for kindness.
“I love helping people,” says Hunter, who will go out of his way to make other people’s lives better. Think: young man in the grocery store parking lot helping elderly women and men load their groceries into their cars.
It’s no surprise that Hunter planned Christmas Dinner Baskets for his final Eagle Scout project.
“With the prices of food going up, COVID, people having a hard time finding jobs and Christmas around the corner, I thought, ‘We should do this,’” Hunter says. “We can put together a nice dinner basket for people so at least they could have dinner.”
Hunter delivered above and beyond. He collected food donations throughout his local community, enough to provide two baskets each to 30 families. Amid a food shortage, his project could not have been more needed or more difficult. Walt Churchill’s market came through with 20 gallons of milk donations while the Summit Academy – Toledo family donated food as well toward the project. In addition, Hunter enlisted assistance from the Maumee High School freshmen boys’ basketball team. The players helped by unloading donations and assembling baskets.
“We are very happy that this young man stood up and gave back, he worried about others, that they would have full bellies,” Principal Murphy says, reacting to the nature of Hunter’s Eagle Scout project. “Hunter is Hunter all the time. He doesn’t mind helping out and putting his all in it. It makes my heart smile that he wants to help the community and others.”
Hunter plans to attend welding school after he graduates from high school. He says he looks forward to turning his love for metalworking into a rewarding career.
Principal Murphy says she has no doubts about Hunter’s future successes.
“Hunter is definitely a leader. He does not follow the crowd. He sticks to his guns,” Principal Murphy says. “He stands up as a leader and it doesn’t stop at Summit Academy.”
Summit Academy CEO John Guyer, who also is an Eagle Scout, says, “Our school community could not be prouder of Hunter for his incredible achievement. The perseverance, dedication and hard work he has demonstrated to earn this honor are nothing short of outstanding.”