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Holland Scout earns Eagle rank

March 22, 2013 By

Kevin Kauermann

 

by June Portnoy

Kevin Kauermann of Troop 280 at St. Bede The Venerable Parish, recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest award in scouting.

Kevin, currently a senior at Council Rock High School South, became a Cub Scout in third grade.

“My father, who was a Boy Scout in Troop 1 in Philadelphia, motivated me to become a Scout, recognizing all the benefits of joining,” says Kevin.

When Kevin was in sixth grade, he crossed over to become a Boy Scout, and in 2011, during his sophomore year in high school, he began preparing his project to become an Eagle Scout.

“Only two percent of Boy Scouts in the Unites States earn their Eagle Scout medal because it truly is a challenging, time-consuming process, but I knew it would be worth the hard work to earn it,” he says.

Kevin, who grew up near Tyler State Park and spent a lot of his youth bike riding through its trails, wanted to contribute something tangible to the park. He also wanted to do something constructive because he has an interest in mechanical engineering, a degree he plans to pursue in college.

Kevin met with the Manager of Maintenance at Tyler State Park, who mentioned that he had a need for somebody to assemble new picnic tables. The park had purchased these tables, but had nobody to put them together.

“I liked the idea of assembling these picnic tables because I knew I could go back to the park and see people enjoying them after they were completed,” says Kevin.

Part of Kevin’s Eagle Scout project included teaching his troop how to assemble the tables, so he initially went to the maintenance yard at the park with his father to be sure he knew how to construct the tables.

In addition to simply assembling the tables, Kevin took the project to another level by deciding to also stain them, so they wouldn’t rot and would be waterproof. He also wanted to add reinforcement to the tables so they wouldn’t sag.

“Because of these extra steps, I estimate that these tables will last about 10 years, as compared to the previous tables at the park that lasted around five years,” says Kevin.

While still at the maintenance yard, Kevin took pictures of the different steps involved in constructing the tables. He then created a user manual, which included step-by-step instructions on assembling these picnic tables, along with photos he took to visually describe how to build the tables.

“My hope was that this manual would help the scouts assemble the tables,” says Kevin.

Kevin selected 11 picnic tables in the worst condition at three of the park’s picnic areas to replace. According to Kevin, some of the tables were sagging into mud, while others had nails sticking out of them. After disposing of these tables, he needed to construct five tables at the Boat House picnic area, three at Hickory Run and three at Upper Plantation.

His project came to fruition on October 1st and 2nd, 2011 when about 20 of his troop members assisted Kevin in assembling the picnic benches.

“While watching Kevin oversee this project and delegate responsibilities to the scouts, I realized that he had developed strong leadership skills,” says his proud mom, Elizabeth. “He was very effective in getting everyone to follow his instructions.”

Says Kevin, “Today when I see people sitting at the picnic tables we built, I get a great sense of accomplishment.”

Following the construction of the tables, Kevin was required to put together a project summary, which included all the specifics of his project. This past October 15th, 2012, Kevin’s project passed the Scout’s Board of Review, meaning he became an official Eagle Scout.

He received his Eagle Scout medal during a ceremony held at St. Bede’s on November 24th.

Kevin, who plays the cello at high school, performed a musical piece with three other cellists, who coincidentally are also Boy Scouts.

“I felt so honored to receive my medal,” says Kevin. “As they say, ‘Once you’re an Eagle Scout, you’re always an Eagle Scout.’ And I plan to always live my life by the Scout law and oath.”

Kevin hopes that someday he will have a son, and like his dad, he will encourage him to become a Cub Scout.

PHOTO CAP: Kevin Kauermann

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Filed Under: Northampton Herald News Tagged With: , , , ,

Michael Reynolds refurbishes park for Eagle Scout Service Project

March 4, 2013 By

by Alyson Komyanek

Seven years after joining Boy Scout Troop 46, 18-year-old Michael Reynolds, then a senior at Pennsbury High School, desired to earn Eagle Scout status. In order to do so, he would need to complete a service project.

Feeling compelled to help out his hometown, he began searching for an assignment that would allow him to use his carpentry skills as well as do something nice for the neighborhood.

“The Boy Scouts taught me a lot,” said Mike. “So I wanted to do something to give back to the community for my project.”

He decided to check with local township officials to see if there were any community areas in need of a facelift.

“I went to the township building and asked what I could do. They gave me a few options, but the park was named in memory of a firefighter who died in the line of duty, so I decided to pick that one,” he said. Having played a few ball games at the park as a child, Mike knew exactly where it was and what needed to be done – the benches, trash cans and tables needed repair and the park’s sign was also in need of some TLC.

On March 10th, 2012 he enlisted the help of 25 friends, family and Troop members to renovate Von Hoffman Park in Fairless Hills. Mike said he was able to recruit so many helpers through the use of social media, phone calls and announcements during Troop meetings.

“We painted the sign and replaced the wood and polls on the benches, [trash] cans and tables. We also added new bolts and screws, but we were able to leave the frames,” said Mike.  

The project was not only good for the community, but it was also a learning experience for him.

“I learned responsibility and how to make a plan and follow through with it. Also the accountability of taking on such a large project, getting volunteers and making sure it all got done on time,” he said.

Mike added that several fellow Eagle Scouts had done similar projects in the past, and they were essential in helping him learn new skills.

For Mike, the best part of the day was not the completed project, but the response from children and parents who frequent Von Hoffman Park. “There was a ball game at the park that day and parents and kids came up to me afterwards. They thanked me for picking this project and doing the work. That really meant a lot to me,” he said of his experience.

Mike visited the park once since completing the project last year.

“I was there this past spring. I took a walk around the area and it is still very nice,” he said.

When asked to sum up the project in as few words as possible, Mike, now a physics major at West Chester University, called it “eye-opening.”

Von Hoffman Park is located at Edgemont and Cardiff Road and offers a basketball court, soccer field, walking path and playground.

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Filed Under: Morrisville Times News Tagged With: , , , ,

Michael Wu attains rank of Eagle Scout

November 30, 2012 By
Michael Wu

 

Music is a big part of Michael Wu’s life; he plays both trombone and piano and has performed at Carnegie Hall. The Boy Scout Troop 99 Eagle Scout credits his study of music with helping him to think clearly and stay focused.

For his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project, Michael brought a musical feature to the recently created Natural Play Area at Churchville Nature Center. His project was the installation of a cedar and galvanized metal pipe fence on which children can make music.

“He did and excellent job and I am very happy with the results,” said Peg Mongillo, Education Director at the Center. “The children who visit us here at the Nature Center will be enjoying this musical fence for many years to come.”

The son of Hong Zhou and Thong Trinh of Newtown, Michael is a junior at Council Rock High School North. He is an honor roll student who is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars and the French Honor Society.

Michael is also a staff member for the Council Rock student newspaper, The Indianite. His Introduction to Business Communication won first place in the Future Business Leaders of America Pennsylvania Regional Competition.

He is a member of the Winter and Spring Varsity Track and Field teams.  In his free time, Michael volunteers at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne.

Michael is a brother in the Order of the Arrow and attended the National Order of the Arrow Conference in 2009.

He was a member of the Bucks County Contingent to the 2010 National Jamboree.

He traveled it and traveled to Haliburton Scout Reserve in Canada and the New River Gorge in West Virginia where he earned the nickname Wujam when, as a new Scout, his canoe became wedged sideways on the river and blocked all those behind him.

PHOTO CAP: Michael Wu with his cedar and galvanized metal pipe fence at Churchville Nature Center

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Filed Under: Newtown Gazette News Tagged With: , , , ,

Eagle Scout Court of Honor becomes performance art

November 23, 2012 By
Andrew Carey

 

Most Eagle Courts of Honor follow a fairly predictable format; laudatory speeches, local dignitaries and sentimental stories are the usual order of the day.

Early on, Andrew Carey informed those who knew him that if he made the rank of Eagle, his Court of Honor wouldn’t be like any other they’d ever attended. And Eagle Scout that he is, it wasn’t.

The venue he chose, the historic Newtown Theater, helped create an ambiance that was more entertainment than ceremony. He opened the event with a video presentation on Scouting in film and moved onto a musical number about the Boy Scout Handbook that sounded eerily familiar to “Hello!” from Book of Mormon.

Rather than rely on stories told by Scoutmasters, Andrew directed his Scout brothers and friends in vignettes to tell the story of his Scouting career.

One highlight of the afternoon was an encore performance of the original Den 8 Webelos rendition of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” performed by the high school juniors with their favorite puppets.

Certain parts of the Eagle Court of Honor are non-negotiable. When it came to the Eagle Scout Charge and Oath, it seemed fitting that Andrew’s older brother, Alan, perform the task. It was a touching moment but not nearly as amusing as Andrew’s riff on Alan’s Trail to Eagle delivered as a stand-up routine at Alan’s Court of Honor four years ago.

Andrew installed a slide feature at Churchville Nature Center’s Natural Play Area as his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project. Moving over 250 wheelbarrow loads of soil, Andrew and his volunteers created a hill into which he set a dual channel slide.

To raise funds to purchase his materials, Andrew sold flowers, sponsored an evening of midnight bowling and “flocked” the yards of family friends with a troop of 12 flaming pink flamingoes and their matching tent.

The son of Dorothy Braun and Scott Carey of Newtown, Andrew is a senior at Council Rock High School North where he is also a member of the National Honor Society, National Science Honor Society, Symphonic Choir and Mastersingers.

Andrew plans to pursue a career in theatre set design; he is a member of National Thespian Honor Society and vice-president of the Sock’n’Buskin Theater Group. Most recently he designed and helped create the set and special effects for the spring production of “CATS,” in addition to performing in the show.

Andrew traveled to Haliburton Scout Reserve in Canada, New River Gorge, WV and Sea Base in the Bahamas with his troop. He is a Vigil member of the Boy Scouts of America’s Order of the Arrow (OA) and attended a conclave held in Puerto Rico as a member of Ajapeu Lodge.

In keeping with his passion for theater, Andrew earned a place on the OA Show Team at the 2010 National Jamboree and NOAC in 2009 and 2012.

“An OA Showman has to have two qualities, an insane desire to give service, and the ability to adapt,” said John Gasink, Director of National OA Show Team Wardrobe, Props and Makeup.

“Andrew’s ‘assigned’ job was as a cast member – which he has done with us three times – two NOACs and a Jamboree – but his participation wasn’t limited to his time on stage.”

“Every member of our staff is involved in the entire production from set-up to strike – you can be performing in the opening show, and then spend the next three days making 3000 feet of jungle vine. I’m pretty sure that Andrew never wants to see rolls of brown craft paper ever again. Four shows in five nights, uniting almost 8000 attendees and helping deliver Scouting’s message.”

PHOTO CAP: Eagle Scouts from Pack 99 Den 8, from left, Ryan Varian, Chris Mangogna, Matthew Micciolo, Geoff Matz, Josh Matz, George Stockburger VI and Andrew Carey performing “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”

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Filed Under: Newtown Gazette News Tagged With: , , , ,

Mike Fritzinger returns to his roots

November 16, 2012 By

Mike Fritzinger Newtown Elementary School alum Michael Fritzinger returned to his roots, literally, when it came time to choose his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project.

The Troop 99 Scout led a multi-generational team that included fellow Scouts, his dad Jeffrey and his grandfather Albert Becker as they installed a drip irrigation system in the 14 raised beds at the school’s Veggieville organic garden.

“Mike’s project to build and install an underground irrigation system for the Newtown Elementary School vegetable garden was extremely ambitious and visionary!” said Cheryl Gilmore, co-coordinator of Veggieville.

“Mike worked diligently, along with his father, grandfather and others, day after day, until the project was complete. We were all quite impressed with the scope of the project and with the level of technical skill involved.”

Mike, who is also the son of Christina Fritzinger of Newtown, is a senior at Council Rock High School North where he is a member of the Ski and Snowboard Club.

He has traveled with his troop to Haliburton Scout Reserve in Canada and New River Gorge in West Virginia and was a member of the Bucks County Contingent to National Jamboree at Fort A. P. Hill in Virginia. His Life Scout Project was a renovation of the Butterfly Garden at Clark Nature Center.

In addition to snowboarding, Mike plays defense on the Philadelphia JR Revolution AA hockey team.

His other passion is travel, both in the U.S. and internationally. He has visited Australia, Japan, Russia, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and England.

PHOTO CAP: Mike Fritzinger

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Filed Under: Newtown Gazette News Tagged With: , , , ,

Michael Wu attains rank of Eagle Scout

November 7, 2012 By

Music is a big part of Michael Wu’s life; he plays both trombone and piano and has performed at Carnegie Hall. The Boy Scout Troop 99 Eagle Scout credits his study of music with helping him to think clearly and stay focused.

For his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project, Michael brought a musical feature to the recently created Natural Play Area at Churchville Nature Center. His project was the installation of a cedar and galvanized metal pipe fence on which children can make music.

“He did and excellent job and I am very happy with the results,” said Peg Mongillo, Education Director at the Center. “The children who visit us here at the Nature Center will be enjoying this musical fence for many years to come.”

The son of Hong Zhou and Thong Trinh of Newtown, Michael is a junior at Council Rock High School North. He is an honor roll student who is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars and the French Honor Society.

Michael is also a staff member for the Council Rock student newspaper, The Indianite. His Introduction to Business Communication won first place in the Future Business Leaders of America Pennsylvania Regional Competition.

He is a member of the Winter and Spring Varsity Track and Field teams.  In his free time, Michael volunteers at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne.

Michael is a brother in the Order of the Arrow and attended the National Order of the Arrow Conference in 2009. He was a member of the Bucks County Contingent to the 2010 National Jamboree.

He traveled it and traveled to Haliburton Scout Reserve in Canada and the New River Gorge in West Virginia where he earned the nickname Wujam when, as a new Scout, his canoe became wedged sideways on the river and blocked all those behind him.

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Filed Under: Northampton Herald News Tagged With: , , , ,

Benjamin Tushar earns rank of Eagle Scout

October 26, 2012 By

Benjamin Tushar Benjamin L. Tushar, son of Jeffrey and Tracy Tushar of Upper Makefield, recently achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

Benjamin’s Eagle Scout Project was conducted at The National Junior Tennis Learning League of Trenton (NJTLT). NJTLT provides the urban youth of Trenton with various after school and summer programs. Using tennis as a catalyst, these programs give Trenton children guidance with math, reading and writing.

The sport of tennis also is used to help these children gain invaluable information about nutrition and sportsmanship.

Benjamin was approached by NJTLT to clean and construct an organizational system for their storage unit. This project was imperative to the operation of their after-school, summer and fundraising programs.

After cleaning the facility, Benjamin designed and built a specialized hanging unit for the tennis racquets using a cable tie system for the metal ceiling.

He also constructed a large shelving unit for the storage of other items.  According to Daniel Faber, Executive Director of NJTLT, Ben’s efforts were, “…short of miraculous as the unit houses so many items key to our delivering quality programs to Trenton’s youth. We wish to publicly thank Benjamin for his many hours of dedication and his transformation of our facility!”

Ben is with Boy Scout Troop 380 of Newtown and is a junior at Holy Ghost Preparatory School. At HGP he is involved with golf, forensics and the school play. He volunteers time through his troop, Scouting for Food, and with the Church of St. Andrew.

Ben’s Scouting involvement also extends to Brotherhood in the Order of the Arrow and attending two different National Order of the Arrow conventions in the past four years. He went to the National Jamboree in 2010 with the Bucks County Contingency. Ben also has hiked the majority of the New Jersey portion of the Appalachian Trail with his troop.

He has attended Scout summer camps in Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland. He has been in Scouting since the first grade as a Tiger Cub Scout. 

PHOTO CAP: Benjamin Tushar

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Filed Under: Newtown Gazette News Tagged With: , , , ,

Daniel McKenna rises to Eagle Scout

September 21, 2012 By
Daniel McKenna

 

by Mimi Rowland

Nationally, only two percent of Boy Scouts ever earn the rank of Eagle Scout. Bucks County, however, averages five to seven percent.

Daniel McKenna, of Morrisville, is helping to keep those statistics up with his recent rise to Eagle Scout.

Daniel joined the Cub Scouts when he was in first grade and rose quickly through the ranks, distinguishing himself at every level. He has held many leadership positions in the Scouting organization, including Den Chief, Quartermaster, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, and Senior Patrol Leader.

He has earned 42 Merit Badges in a wide variety of areas, from astronomy to theatre, computers to Indian lore, pottery to law. Daniel has also earned a number of Scouting awards such as the Light of Christ and the World Conservation Award.

In 2007, his fellow Scouts in Troop 210 nominated him to become part of the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s National Honor Society. He is now a part of that Brotherhood, which is a lifetime service organization dedicated to cheerfully serving others and promoting camping.

One of the requirements to become an Eagle Scout is to plan and execute a service project.

Daniel decided to help Holy Trinity Church in Morrisville make repairs to their parish center after it had suffered water damage from a leaking roof. Daniel raised the money for the renovations, and organized family members and troop members who helped with the scraping, priming, and painting of the six affected rooms.

Within three weekends the rooms had been repaired, and are now being used by the CYO.

Daniel has distinguished himself outside of Scouting as well. He is a member of the CYO as well as an altar server and cantor at the Holy Trinity Parish and School. He is the salutatorian of the class of 2012 at Notre Dame High School where he has performed in 12 theater productions, held the office of vice president in student government, served as a peer leader, and sung with the Madrigals.

In his community, Daniel has worked with Anchor House, the American Cancer Society, the Morris Hall Retirement Home, and has participated in food collections, books drives, and community service days.

Undoubtedly he accomplished all of these things with his trademark smile on his face.

Daniel plans to attend Muhlenberg College in the fall to study finance and theater arts. Needless to say, his parents, Joyce and David Gaunt are extremely proud of him.

PHOTO CAP: Daniel McKenna (center) with his parents at his Eagle Scout ceremony.

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Filed Under: Morrisville Times News Tagged With: , , , ,

Matt Reilly achieves rank of Eagle Scout

August 20, 2012 By
Matt Reilly

 

Like many Eagle Scout candidates, Matthew Reilly of considered a number of potential projects before settling on an Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project that combined his heartfelt patriotism and his desire to build something useful.

Matt constructed a footbridge at Washington Crossing National Cemetery that provides a welcome short cut from the parking lot to the gravesites along Highland Road. 

David Kolmetzky, Administrative Officer of the cemetery, commented that Matt’s project has been well received by his organization.

“We couldn’t be happier with the work and he should be commended for the work he put into the project. The bridge that he constructed gives our visitors safe passage over a drainage culvert and also adds to the appearance of the property.”

The son of Melissa and Gene Reilly of Washington Crossing, Matt is a 2012 graduate of Council Rock High School North. He attends Bloomsburg University where he will enroll in the Army ROTC program in the fall.

Matt is an active member of Newtown Presbyterian Church where he participated in Youth Group. He volunteered on Mission Work Trips to Maine, Nova Scotia, West Virginia, Virginia and South Dakota.

He has also volunteered on two separate home renovations with the Interfaith Housing Group.

Matt’s scouting career includes Brotherhood in Order of the Arrow, camping at New River Gorge in West Virginia and attending National Jamboree in 2010 as part of the Bucks County Council Contingent.

PHOTO CAP: Eagle Scout Matt Reilly on the footbridge he constructed at Washington Crossing National Cemetery

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Filed Under: Newtown Gazette News Tagged With: , , ,

Chris Mangogna attains Eagle Scout rank

August 3, 2012 By
Chris Mangogna

 

It was a sense of gratitude that led Troop 99 Eagle Scout Christopher Mangogna to select the Washington Crossing National Cemetery as the site of his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project.

Chris designed and created a memorial garden near the entrance to the cemetery. Landscaped, and featuring the emblems of each branch of the service, the centerpiece of the garden is a native stone boulder bearing a bronze plaque honoring those who have served in the military.

David Kolmetzky, Administrative Officer of the cemetery, praised Chris’ project.

“We’ve received nothing but positive feedback from the families we serve. The monument the he installed gives a wonderful tribute to the men and women who have served their country proudly.”

Chris is the son of Philip and Colleen Mangogna of Newtown. He is a senior at Council Rock High School North where he is a member of National Honor Society, National Latin Honor Society, Rho Kappa, Future Educators of America and the fall and spring track teams.

He also volunteers in the STAR student teaching assistant program, Big Brother, Big Sister tutoring at Goodnoe Elementary School and as a mentor in the Camp Discovery Program.

As a Boy Scout, Chris has traveled to Haliburton Scout Reservation in Canada and BSA Sea Base in the Bahamas.

He was a member of the Bucks County Council Contingent attending National Jamboree. He is a Brother in Order of the Arrow and has served his troop in various leadership positions including Senior Patrol Leader.

PHOTO CAP: Chris Mangogna at the memorial garden he created

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Filed Under: Newtown Gazette News Tagged With: , , ,
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