AUGUSTA — The Kennebec Valley District finished 2018 with 36 Scouts attaining the highest rank in Boy Scouting — the Eagle Scout. The Scouting district covers five counties (Kennebec, Lincoln, Knox, Franklin and Somerset) sweeping from the Canadian border to the rocky coast.
In 2018, there were 141 Eagles from the state of Maine and 52,160 young men across the nation earned Scouting’s lofty award. If all of those class of 2018 Eagle Scouts wanted to gather to watch the Red Sox at Fenway Park, they would fill up all of the 37,731 seats and spill out onto Yawkey Way.
Locally, churches and charities from Jackman to Camden and Wilton to Albion saw Scouts providing more than 6,000 hours of service just through projects led by teenagers hoping to earn their Eagle Scout rank.
“This is absolutely amazing,” said Kennebec Valley District Chairman Bruce Rueger of Wateville. “When you think of all the good our Scouts are doing in the community — building handicap ramps, restoring forgotten veterans grave markers, making life easier for seniors and the needy, and building trails — I am truly impressed. It really is heartening, in this day and age, to see a program where young people are taught they have a responsibility to help other people at all times. I am so proud of our Scouts.”
The fact that a boy is an Eagle Scout has always carried with it a special significance. The award is a performance-based achievement, whose standards have been well-maintained over the years. Not every boy who joins Scouts, BSA earns the Eagle Scout rank. This represents more than 2.25 million Boy Scouts, who have attained the rank since 1912.
While a Life Scout, a Scout plans, develops and gives leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, school or the community. In addition to providing service and fulfilling the part of the Scout Oath, “to help other people at all times,” one of the primary purposes of the Eagle Scout service project is to demonstrate hone, learn and develop leadership skills. Related to this are important lessons in project management and taking responsibility for a significant accomplishment.
Maine Scouts, by county, who have attained Eagle Scout designation:
Kennebec County:
* Mathew Dow Jr. of Albion – Albion Troop 446 – 26 Hours of Service restoring the Albion Historical Society train for educational purposes * Alexander Steward of Augusta – China Troop 479 – 202 hours of service building an outdoor classroom at Lincoln Elementary School in Augusta.
* Matthew Allarie of Sidney – Sidney Troop 401 – 45 hours of service building a trophy case for the high school music department.
* Nicholas Shelton of Winslow – China Troop 479 – 98 hours of service at Waterville Creates building pottery studio shelves.
* Jaxon Roan of Oakland – Waterville Troop 417 – 358 hours of service building and installing cat climbing and exercise structures at PALS no kill animal shelter.
* Maverick Lowery of Vassalboro – Vassalboro Troop 410 – 208 hours of service building and improving trails at the Annie Sturgis Sanctuary including installing bridges where needed.
* Logan Cummins of Monmouth – Winthrop/Monmouth Troop 604 – 971 hours of service at Camp Mechuwana in Winthrop installing a new sign including brick foundation and solar lights.
* Liam Patrick Rodrigue of Litchfield – Litchfield Troop 698 – 140 hours of service building a U.S. flag retirement fire pit area for the American Legion Post 181 in Litchfield.
* Michael Littlefield of China – China Troop 479 – 50 hours of service building shelves for the China Food Bank.
* Isaac Dearborn of West Gardiner – West Gardiner Troop 613 – 137 hours of service constructing an information kiosk at the new West Gardiner boat launch.
* Jack DiGirolamo of Belgrade – Troop 401 Sidney – 93 hours of service building mountain bike bridges for Quarry Road Trails in Waterville.
* Lucas Eric Lenfest of Smithfield – Troop 453 in Belgrade – 176 hours of service constructing a Veterans Memorial in front of the Smithfield Town office including walkway and granite bench.
* Noah Keene of Gardiner – Troop 672 in Gardiner – 101 hours of service upgrading and adding on to the snack shack at the high school soccer field.
* Tieran Croft of Sidney – Waterville Troop 417 – 162 hours of service building eight benches for the town of Oakland.
* Nivek Boostedt of China – China Troop 479 – 132 hours of service building an outdoor classroom for the China School Forest.
* Travis Nadeau of Litchfield – Litchfield Troop 698 – 115 hours of service building a shed to serve as shelter for donated bottles to local charities.
* Adam DeWitt of Sidney – Troop 401 in Sidney – 270 hours of service putting on and promoting a benefit concert to raise awareness for Travis Mills Foundation.
* Joshua Robert Hoffman of Augusta – Troop 603 in Augusta – 132 hours of service building a small playground at St Michael Roman Catholic School.
* Dawson Poulin of Sidney – Troop 401 in Sidney – 568 hours of service building helmet and baseball bat racks for the Sidney Athletic Association and then rebuilding them after vandals destroyed them a day after they were installed.
* Kai McGlauflin of Sidney – Sidney Troop 401 – 114 hours of service building an awards cabinet and work bench for the Messalonskee High School and Middle School Robotics Teams.
* Tucker Leonard of Palermo – Troop 479 in China – 112 hours of service constructing an outdoor classroom at the Palermo Consolidated School.
* Eric McDonnell of Augusta – Troop 603 Augusta- 177 hours of service building three benches and picnic table for the Kennebec River Rail Trail for Augusta.
* Travis John Nickerson of Augusta – Troop 606 in Farmingdale – 81 hours of service gathering items and raising awareness in the community to help those who need help through the Bridging the Gap Center for Resources, Essentials Pantry & Clothing Bank in Augusta. In total, 1,218 items were collected for those in need of essential items.
Somerset County:
* Nathan Bloom of Skowhegan – Skowhegan Troop 431 – 97 hours of service collecting photos and uploading them to help make it easier for those looking for loved ones or working on genealogy.
* Lucas Eric Lenfest of Smithfield – Troop 453 in Belgrade – 176 hours of service constructing a Veterans Memorial in front of the Smithfield Town office, including walkway and granite bench.
* Austin Wright of Madison – Troop 481 serving Madison/Anson/ Starks – 78 hours of service to demolish and old ramp and build a sturdy handicap accessible ramp at the fire station.
* Jackson Dudley of Fairfield – Skowhegan Troop 431 – 80 hours building three new picnic tables at Mill Island Park from materials he solicited in the community.
* Peter P Logiodice V of Pittsfield – Troop 428 in Pittsfield – 267 hours of service building wheel chair ramp for a church in Pittsfield.
* Parker Jeffrey Desjardins of Jackman – Troop 497 in Jackman – 153 hours of service building new trophy case and banner for the Forest Hills School.
* Hunter Edwin William Cuddy of Jackman – Troop 497 in Jackman – 161 hours of service making major improvements to the Forest Hills School nature trail including adding benches, plant and tree identification signs and viewing areas.
Franklin County:
* Benjamin Butterfield of Phillips – Strong Troop 500 – 130 hours of service cleaning and restoring 66 historic gravestones including those belonging to veterans and logged them into findagrave.com.
* John Knapp of Farmington – Troop 546 in Farmington – 142 hours improving Titcomb Mountain trail signs.
* Hunter Hutchins of Wilton – Troop 518 in Wilton – 176 hours of service building a set of steps and deck and painting three car garage at Kineowatha Park in Wilton.
* Brian Hayes of Farmington – Troop 594 Farmington – 118 hours of service.
Knox County:
* John Owen Edward Weber of Union – Camden Troop 200 – 52 hours building composting bins for the middle school to help reduce waste and provide compost for the school.
* Samuel Dallas Hebert of Rockport and Thomaston – Camden Troop 200 – 150 hours of service providing significant improvements at the Marge Jones Recreational Facility in Rockport, including the fundraising for and installation of a new entrance sign, electronic scoreboard and dugout improvements.
* Jon Heath of Camden – Camden Troop 200 – 112 hours of service constructing signs for a new multi-use trail at the high school including a large trail entrance sign and trail marker signs.
