Date: Fri 09-Oct-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

Chris-Hubert-Eagle-Scout

Full Text:

Chris Hubert Honored As An Eagle Scout

(with cuts)

Christopher Gengembre Hubert, 18, of Newtown became an Eagle Scout on

September 26, during a ceremony where he was surrounded by family, friends,

and other Eagle Scouts and received scores of awards and accolades.

Christopher is the 43rd Scout from Troop 270 in Dodgingtown to reach

scouting's highest rank since 1966. He is the son of Patricia and Richard

Hubert, of Phyllis Lane.

Last June, a memorial garden, whose design, layout and execution was Chris'

Eagle Scout project, was dedicated on the grounds of Newtown Congregational

Church. The garden is located in the lower lawn of the church, near the

intersection of Castle Hill Road and West Street.

It is open to the public, and has been designed to have color year-round.

Chris spent over a year creating the garden. Weather conditions last winter

delayed much of his work, he said this week, but the result is lovely.

Scoutmaster William Simmons conducted the ceremony at Newtown Congregational

Church last month, where the Revs Steven Gordon and Janice Touloukian gave the

invocation and benediction, respectively.

The Huberts are members of the church's congregation. Chris is a deacon at the

church, and is very active with the senior fellowship group. On a weekend

retreat to Camp Jewel last weekend, Chris was a student leader for the group

of 40 campers ranging in age from sixth grade to high school seniors. This

past summer, he was also a student leader during a 65-mile canoe trip through

the Adirondacks.

To open the Eagle Scout ceremony last month, the Color Guard presented the

colors using a flag that had flown over the nation's capitol on July 22.

Congressman James Maloney had arranged for the presentation. The flag was

later presented to the Hubert family.

Other Eagle Scouts present rededicated themselves during the ceremony by

repeating the Eagle Scout Promise. Chris' parents were then escorted to the

podium, where they were presented with the parent's pin, tie tack and

certificate.

Among the Eagle Scouts presenting awards were Mrs Hubert's cousin, John

Prothro, of Michigan; Bruce Treidel of Bethel Music Center; Jeffrey Hibbert,

chairman of the troop; and Newtown residents Tony Neri, Bobby Murdy, Fred

Adler and Joe Tarshus.

Awards and citations were presented to Christopher, including those from

Newtown First Selectman Herb Rosenthal, Past President and Mrs George Bush,

President and Mrs William Clinton, Past President Jimmy Carter, and Past

President Gerald Ford (himself an Eagle Scout).

Also, Henry H. Shelton, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the Connecticut

General Assembly; Special Congressional Recognition from Senators Christopher

Dodd and Joseph Lieberman; Governor John Rowland; Rep Julia Wasserman; and

Astronaut John Glenn.

"These men hold Eagle Scouting in the highest regard," Pat Hubert,

Christopher's mother, said this week. "Eagles are so admired by so many

because it is such a difficult rank to attain. Only one percent of all the

Scouts who enter Scouting become Eagles.

"This helps build character and leadership in boys," she continued. "It

develops good, responsible citizenship and these men recognize this. They

recognize how important these characteristics are."

Astronaut Jim Buckley sent a signed picture of himself with a three-year-old

Christopher in his arms. Another prized, signed photo came from John Newman,

the American astronaut in charge of docking with the Russian spaceship.

Peter Bregenzer, clean room specialist for NASA, sent signed photos he had

acquired for Christopher of all the crews of the Columbia , the first

Challenger and Endeavor space shuttles.

There was also a special award presented from Hiram Lodge 118 in Sandy Hook.

Administered by Master James Inglis, Chris was given the first Brother Milton

Chernoff Citizenship Award. The recently-established award will be given

annually to a young man who exhibits admirable traits of good citizenship,

both to his school and community. The certificate award was accompanied by two

medals and a $100 savings bond.

A reception followed for all of the participants in the church's undercroft,

and then continued at the home of the Huberts.

Chris is a senior this year at Newtown High School. He has qualified as a

National Merit Scholar, and is a member of both the National Honor Society and

the National Spanish Honor Society. He is an honor roll student at the high

school.

Christopher is co-owner, with Bill Speirs, of a company called Tactical

Defense Software, which is registered with the State of Connecticut. The

company was developed after the two created a security software program for

computers, called "Rock Lock Security."

The program stops accidental or intentional entry into files. Among the

company's clients is Newtown High School, which purchased the program last

spring.

Last year he received the NHS Media Center Award, recognizing his work in

developing programs for the high school's computer system. He has developed

programs for the full district, as well, and his programs will be installed in

the laptop computers that are being purchased for Newtown teachers.

Chris developed the Web sites for Newtown High School, the Newtown High School

Band, and the Newtown school system. He also designed and developed the

original plans for the Fairfield County Council of Boy Scouts' Web page.

He is a part-time employee at TUV Rhineland's North American headquarters in

Newtown, where he works in the marketing department. He also provides some

technical support for the company's engineering department.

Currently he is looking at engineering schools to continue his education after

he graduates from Newtown High School in June.