Two More Young Men Have Attained

The Rank Of Eagle Scout

Troop 770 of Newtown proudly awarded the rank of Eagle Scout to Kevin Milot and Zachary Klein in a service at St. Rose Church this past week. Father Bob Weiss gave the convocation and troopmaster Larry Gardner presided over the service. Kevin will be a senior at Newtown High School. Zachary recently graduated from Newtown High and will attend Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston this fall.

A Boy Scout must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service, and outdoor skills to earn the Eagle Scout rank, the highest advancement rank in scouting. The fact that a boy has earned his Eagle carries with it a special significance, in scouting and in the worlds of higher education, business, industry, and notably in community services.

The award is a performance-based achievement with many subjects to master with demonstrated proficiency to obtain merit badges. There are many options within the merit badges but a core set is required for eagle rank. Additionally, during his years as a Boy Scout he must pass six adult review boards and an eagle project must be completed to ensure that all requirements are met and that the Boy Scout is eligible for the next rank.

Not every boy who joins a Boy Scout troop earns the Eagle Scout rank; only about two percent of all Boy Scouts do so. Nevertheless, the goals of scouting — citizenship training, character development, and personal fitness — remain important for all scouts, whether or not they attain the Eagle Scout rank.

Zachary Klein

Zachary began as Cub Scout in the first grade in Franklin, Mass. A two time winner of the Pinewood Derby, he has scouted in Franklin, Mass. (Troop 126), Lake Oswego, Oregon (Troop 230), and now here in Newtown.

Through scouting, Zach has had many accomplishments including earning 31 merit badges, obtaining both his Boy Scout and Red Cross Lifeguard certifications, CPR training, and Junior Leadership training. Continuing outside of BSA he has obtained his WSI swimming teachers certificate and now works as a Lifeguard and swim instructor.

Positions he has held include Patrol Leader, Quartermaster, and his favorite, Troop Guide working with the younger scouts. Through scouting Zachary discovered that one of his great strengths was working with the younger boys. He has volunteered as a Big Brother and has performed more than 200 hours of community service in the last four years.

Zachary’s Eagle project consisted of performing needed maintenance and upgrading of fire hydrants throughout the town of Sandy Hook. Zachary organized teams to locate, clear brush, and paint hydrants for visibility. Following this, Zachary determined the GPS coordinates of the hydrants for the fire department — crucial in a climate that can bury its hydrants in snow!

Next year Zachary will be attending Wentworth Technological Institute in Boston, where he will be pursuing a degree in Biomedical Engineering.

Kevin Milot

Kevin began scouting as a Tiger Cub in Taipei, Taiwan. After completing Cub Scouting he started his Boy Scout career as a member of Troop 153 which is sponsored by St Agnes Church located in West Chester, Penn. While with Troop 153 he held the positions of Patrol Leader and Librarian.

After moving to Newtown, he joined Troop 770. Kevin introduced the scouting honor society, Order of the Arrow, to his new troop and held the troop’s first election. The troop now has six members in the Order. Positions he has held within Troop 770 included Order of the Arrow Representative and his current role as Junior Assistant Scoutmaster.

Through his years in scouting Kevin has achieved many accomplishments. He earned the Arrow of Light Award, is a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow, attended Junior Leader Training, is a certified BSA and Red Cross Lifeguard, CPR trained, and has earned 31 merit badges. He was awarded a bronze Eagle Palm during the recent Eagle Scout ceremony in addition to Eagle, which is awarded to Scouts who stay active after achieving their Eagle.

Kevin’s Eagle project consisted of creating an outdoor worship area for his church, St Rose of Lima. He planned and designed the area, and secured donations from local merchants, included plantings, mulch, decorated stone and granite benches from local merchants. Kevin completed his project by pruning the adjacent woods/wetlands as well as removing trash and other debris.

Kevin is about to begin his senior year of high school and and plans to continue scouting as a member of Troop 770.