Four Scouts from Troop 209 – one of the oldest troops in the U.S. and the only fully co-ed Scout Troop in Newton – were recognized in an Eagle Court of Honor on March 16 for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout – the highest rank in Scouting. This rank, achieved by fewer than 4% of Scouts nationwide, requires years of commitment, dedication, leadership, and service – including a significant service project within their community.
The new Eagle Scouts, honored at the award ceremony at the Weston Community Center, are:
- Leila Maclean (Newton North HS senior) completed a project centered on removing invasive plants and replacing them with native trees and shrubs in Cold Spring Park.
- Ashwin Padmanaban (Newton South HS graduate and freshman at The Ohio State University) completed a project that repaired and replaced 100 feet of boardwalk in Cold Spring Park by Zervas Elementary School.
- Anishka Srikanth (Newton North HS senior) raised more than $6,000 to purchase school supplies that Scouts assembled into 200 backpacks for distribution to three Massachusetts schools via the nonprofit School on Wheels.
- Dhruv Vallurupalli (current Newton South HS senior) worked with the Newton Parks, Recreation and Culture Department to design and construct two wheelchair-accessible garden beds to be installed at Newton’s new community space, Sears Park.
Other new Eagle Scouts recognized in the ceremony were Weston residents C.J. Briere and Joseph Scaparrotta.
One of the speakers, Alex Rivero (alumus of Troop 209, Newton North HS, and University of Miami) said, “I joined Scouting in kindergarten, and after 12 years, I earned the rank of Eagle. Scouting shaped my love for the outdoors, leadership skills, and passion for service. As Senior Patrol Leader, I gained tools that now help me manage a staff of 20. My Eagle status has impressed employers and provided strong talking points in interviews. I spend my free time hiking, camping, and giving back to Scouting, supporting Eagle projects and serving on a local environmental board. Scouting continues to guide my life, and I strive to live by its values every day.”
Sangeet Srikanth – mother of Anishka Srikanth, former Troop 209 Scoutmaster, and a chemistry teacher at NNHS – said, “None of the experiences in scouting can be measured in terms of letter grades, GPA, test scores, but you can witness it everyday in your child’s life. This is what Scouting did for our children: Nurtured courage, developed self-esteem, helped create an identity, and taught enjoyment of simple pleasures of life. No adult in this room can deny how valuable these are in workplaces, in building personal relationships, and in parenting.”
Grace White, Assistant Scoutmaster and Eagle Scout alumna of Troop 209, played the bugle to open and close the ceremony.
Upcoming Eagle Scout project
Another Troop 209 Scout, Luka Smith, is now raising funds for her upcoming Eagle project, by which she will create disability accessible seating for users of mobility devices in the pews of Union Church, the home of Troop 209. To fund this project, she is holding a carwash on Saturday, March 29, 10AM-2PM at 14 Collins Road in Waban.
