Ansonia teen becomes Troop 3's 291st Eagle Scout

Ansonia Mayor David S. Cassetti congratulates Andrew Devine and presents him with a proclamation at a recent Eagle Scout ceremony. / Contributed photo

DERBY – Eagle Scout rank was recently presented by Second Congregational Church sponsored Boy Scout Troop 3, Derby to Andrew Devine, 17, a lifelong resident of Ansonia, and the son of Jeffrey and Martha Devine.

He is the younger brother of Veronica Devine.  

Andrew started Scouting as a Tiger Cub in Pack 5 Ansonia, where he worked his way through the Cub Scout and Webelos badges, eventually earning the Arrow of Light Award, and then joined Troop 3, Derby.  

He has been a member of Trojan Rabbits and Ghost Riders patrols, and has served in leadership roles as Den Chief, Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader, and currently is a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster.  

Andrew has been actively involved in both Troop and Housatonic Council activities including attending summer and winter camping events at Edmund D. Strang Scout Reservation, which he enjoyed so much he is now on summer camp staff as Outdoor Skills Director.  He attended the National Scout Jamboree in 2010 and 2013. 

Andrew also participated in Troop 3 trips, camping along the Pacific Coast in 2011, and sailing at the Florida Keys BSA Sea Base in 2012.  Andrew and his family hosted two Derby, England Scouts in the summer of  2013.

Andrew is a member of  Derby-Shelton Rotary Club sponsored Venture Crew 33 Derby, where he was Crew President, and is a Brotherhood member of Order of the Arrow Paugassett Lodge 553. Andrew has earned a total of 41 merit badges and he is proud to have participated annually in the Scout Gang Show, the past three years as an Endman.  

Andrew is a senior at Ansonia High School, where he was a Life Coach Assistant for three years. He has held the position of Head Editor of the school  paper, and has been a member of the Hiking Club, the Student Government, and is a student member of the Parent Teacher Student Organization.

 

Andrew also enjoys playing acoustic and electric guitars and jamming with his band. He was a member of Shelton Congregational Church.

Andrew built a handicap-accessible paver patio and garden bed at Ansonia High School’s Life Skills Center.  

He led a group of fellow Scouts, friends, family, and students in excavating and constructing the patio and garden bed. He said he is proud that his project has allowed physically disabled students to now participate in the gardening programs at the Life Skills Center. They recently planted their first plants on Earth Day.

After graduating in June and serving on camp staff this summer Andrew will attend the University of Maine at Farmington.  

Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti and Derby Mayor Anita Dugatto were both on hand at the ceremony to recognize Andrew on his accomplishments.
He also received congratulatory letters from U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and President Barack Obama. 
Andrew is Troop 3’s 291st Scout to achieve Eagle Scout rank since the Troop was founded in 1914.


This is a press release from Scoutmaster Randy Ritter. 

Troop 3 in Derby holds court of honor

Housatonic Council BSA Scout Executive Kevin Bishop presents Troop 3 Derby Assistant Senior Patrol Leader Justin Patten with the National BSA’s Quality Unit Award at a recent court of honor ceremony held by Troop 3 at the Derby Second Congregational Church. / Contributed photo

DERBY - Boy Scout Troop 3, sponsored by the Derby Second Congregational Church, recently held a Court of Honor at the church hall. Founded in 1914, the Troop is celebrating 100 years of providing Scouting to youths of the Lower Naugatuck Valley.

Housatonic Council BSA Scout Executive Kevin Bishop presented Troop 3 with the Quality Unit Award for meeting a high standard of goals in areas of advancement, membership, training and community service.  

District Director and Strang Scout Reservation Camp Director Bill Zinky was also on hand to promote the summer camping opportunities at the Goshen Scout camp. In addition, Zinky provided the annual Friends of Scouting where more than $7,000 was pledged by Troop 3 families to support the Valley’s Housatonic Council BSA.

Troop 3 Committee Chairman announced the scouts who were selected to participate in the Troop’s International Exchange Program.

Scouts who will be representing Troop 3 as exchange Scouts to Derby, England are Senior Patrol Leader Ryan Cafaro and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader Anthony Bartholomew. Assistant Senior Patrol Leader Justin Patten and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster Matthew Moran will represent the troop as exchange Scouts to Limerick, Ireland.

The Troop will also be hosting three Scouts from Limerick, two Scouts from Derby and two scouts from Peterborough, England this summer. The English and Irish scouts will be part of Troop 3’s contingent participating in a three-week cross-country camping trek visiting national parks. The international exchange program is made possible through the generosity of Dr. Robert Feeney, a Troop 3 alumnus.

The Court of Honor ceremony under the direction of Patrol Leader James Chopak and Advancement Chairperson Margie Kish, recognized 27 Scouts for earning the following merit badges and advancing in rank: Anthony Bartholomew: Climbing, Matthew Cafaro: Climbing and Space Exploration, Ryan Cafaro: Climbing and Crime Prevention, Andrew Devine: Climbing,

Jason Edwards: Climbing, Matt Edwards: Climbing and Crime Prevention, Vinny Fazzino: Climbing, Michael Flora Jr: Climbing, Emergency Preparedness, Farm Mechanics and Rifle Shooting.  Also, Ben Grasso: Citizenship in the World, Matthew Kish: Climbing, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the World, Farm Mechanics and Radio, Ryan Kish: Climbing, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the World, Radio and Space Exploration.

Brandon Kling: Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Radio, Snow Sports and Space Exploration, Naveen Madivala: Climbing and  Crime Prevention, Colby McLiverty: Climbing and Citizenship in the World, Elliott Moscato: Climbing and Citizenship in the World,

Justin Patten: Climbing, Louis Richetelli: Climbing and Space Exploration, Adam Sroka: Citizenship in the World, Michael Shea: Citizenship in the Nation and Citizenship in the World, Joseph Szewczyk: Climbing and Crime Prevention,  Zachary Thomas: Crime Prevention and Steven Tracz: Citizenship in the World and Family Life

Earning Scout Rank was Vincent Yanez. Second Class Rank was awarded to Vinny Fazzino, Jayson Hutchinson, Thomas Robertson and Zachary Thomas.

First Class Rank was presented to Elliott Moscato and William Smith. Life Rank was earned by Jason Edwards and Michael Shea.

New Scouts who crossed over from Cub Scout Pack 3 into Boy Scout Troop 3 are: Alex Oleschuk, Andrew Kluk, Jared Tobin,  Brandon Yanez,  Aaron Asprelli, Bobby Stankye, and Mike Szewczyk.   Troop 3 still has several openings for boys at least 11 years old who would like to experience the self confidence and character building  adventures that Scouting has to offer. 

Contact Scoutmaster Randy Ritter, 203-732-0343 for more information.

This is a press release from Scoutmaster Randy Ritter.