Twins cooperate for Eagle badges

Though fraternal twins Jacob and John Ekechukwu became Eagle Scouts in October, the similarities between them end there.

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"As a pair, they're the exact opposite," said their mother, Amy Ekechukwu. "One likes one thing, the other dislikes it.

"They're very competitive, but on the Eagle project, they had to work together. They helped each other. I liked seeing that."

The twins, who turned 18 on Dec. 1, are seniors at Greenbrier High School. Both started Scouting in the first grade as Tiger Cubs.

Besides their mutual interest in video games and playing cards, the boys have different hobbies. John played offensive guard and tackle on Greenbrier's football team. Jacob is a black belt in karate.

"They both like to sleep late, and they both like to eat," their mother said.

For their Eagle Scout project, Jacob and John chose to add park amenities for Central Church of Christ on Old Petersburg Road. Jacob built and painted six wooden benches, and John constructed three picnic tables.

"The ones they had were kind of old and broken, because people vandalized them," Jacob said.

After more than a combined 1,000 man-hours between the boys and their volunteers, the two projects were finished in September.

The duo, who are members of Boy Scout Troop 615, said they decided to pair up for the project so it would be easier and they could check each others work.

"We get along good," John said.

The twins' Eagle Court of Honor ceremony was held Sunday at Central Church of Christ, where they attend services.

Though Jacob and John are competitive with each other, their mother said they have always joined forces when they felt threatened.

"They had to split them up early in school, because if anybody else picked on one of them, the other would jump in."

John wants to attend the University of Georgia or the Georgia Institute of Technology to pursue computer or aerospace engineering.

Jacob, on the other hand, is leaning more toward a major in pre-med or pre-law.

"You know how much work you have to do to become a doctor," John said to his brother.

Jacob, who brushed off the friendly jab, said he will apply at UGA, Georgia Southern or Augusta State University.

Attending the same college isn't a top priority for either twin.

"I don't care whether we go to the same college or not," Jacob said. "It's not like I'm going to be homesick or twin-sick."

Amy Ekechukwu said she's proud of her sons' accomplishments in Scouting. She estimates that out of every 500 boys beginning the Scouting program in first grade, only one of them becomes an Eagle Scout.

"We've got two of them," she said.