PARSIPPANY — At the Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Thomas Joseph Catapano on Sunday, October 29, Tommy was presented with the highest advancement of Boy Scouts, the “Eagle Scout.”
The Eagle Scout Award is Scouting’s highest rank and among its most familiar icons. Men who have earned it count it among their most treasured possessions. Those who missed it by a whisker remember exactly which requirement they didn’t complete. Americans from all walks of life know that being an Eagle Scout is a great honor. The award is more than a badge. It’s a state of being. The Eagle Scout may have received the badge as a boy, but you earn it every day as a man. In the words of the Eagle Scout Promise, they do your best each day to make their training and example, their rank and their influence count strongly for better Scouting and for better citizenship in the troop, in their community, and in their contacts with other people. And to this they pledge their sacred honor.
The pathway to Eagle can be described as a steep trail leading up to three peaks, the highest being that of Eagle Scout. Officially, the trail starts with the Tenderfoot rank and continues through Second and First Class ranks. Then, the mountain climbing begins. The path is marked with merit badges, leadership responsibilities, service projects, and the practice of Scouting skills and ideals. The first peak reached is that of Star Scout, the second is Life Scout, and, finally, Eagle Scout.
Tommy began his Scouting experience in Cub Scout Pack 142 where he earned the Arrow of Light award.
He joined Troop 173 in fifth grade and quickly advanced through the first few ranks with the help of Chris Worthington and his Patrol Leader, Danny Metcalf. Tommy has given back to Pack 142 as a Den Chief and earned the Den Chief award for his service and soon after became a Patrol leader and then Asst. Senior Patrol leader.
Tommy has been very active with Troop 173 attending Big Trips to Boston, Baltimore & Washington DC, attended NYLT, was summer camp Senior Patrol Leader and has attained Brotherhood in the Order of the Arrow.
This past summer Tommy attended the 2017 National Jamboree where he was the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader for his Troop and where he earned his Italian Interpreter strip. Tommy has received the Outdoor award for camping and has over 120 nights camping.
In addition, he has earned 24 merit badges and has twice earned the gold community service award for more than 20 hours of community service during a Scouting year. Tommy is currently the Senior Patrol Leader for Troop 173.
For his Eagle Project, Tommy worked with his Eagle Coach and mentor, Juan Correa, and worked with Par-Troy West Little League in Parsippany where he constructed platforms out of railroad ties for much needed extra seating.
He also cleared trails leading to the Little League Complex and installed picnic benches near the baseball fields.
Tommy is currently a Junior at Delbarton School where he’s played baseball, ran cross country and is active with the forensics team. He is a tour guide for his school and participates in the business club, ski club, anglers club, Bridges, and Interfaith Food Pantry. Tommy is also a Junior Dean for his school’s Deanery, and is an active tutor in the Delbarton writing and math centers. Outside of school and Scouting Tommy is a member of St. Christopher’s Church and is actively involved in Games with Friends where he is a peer leader for special needs children from kindergarten to eighth grade. He also participates in the mentor program for the Parsippany PAL.
Tommy enjoys camping, hiking, fishing, skiing and spending time with his family at the beach.
He has gained an appreciation and love for the outdoors through Scouting. Tommy would like to pursue a career in biology or chemistry, his two favorite subjects in school.
Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than two million young men. Only 5% of the Boy Scouts actually earn this rank.
Boy Scouts of America Troop 173 Eagle Scout Honor Roll includes Norman Schofield, Jr., Michael Gottschalk, James Searing, Geoffrey Brown, John Chervenak, Guy Corbett, Tim Corbett, Robert Burney, Juan Correa, Richard Lauber, Tim Roche, Christopher Callahan, Thomas Cook, Stephen Corcoran, Stephan Pirylis, Brian Stewart, Patrick Roche, Edward Chiorazzi, Brian Pomarlen, Simon Healey, Keith Henderlong, David Chezem, Alex Lin, Robert Strechay, Jr., John Oleske, Daniel Strechay, Joseph Strechay, Kevin Smithers, Joseph Stevens, James Ward, Jason Viglione, Michael DeGuarde, Michael Smith, Tim Foster, Christopher Malcolm, Mark Viglione, Gary Hwang, William Barcliffe, IV, Jonathan Cook, Daniel Aguanno, Anthony Valvano, Eric Kratz, David Kratz, Thomas Corigliano, David Kinskey-Lebeda, Ryan Diggle, Mike Fulton, Dan Fulton, Brian Galley, Shane Moravsik, Paul Rossnagel, Jesse Garbarino, Shay Grabinsky, Joseph Stretavski, Brendan Barwick, Eric Galley, Bobby Ebel, Sean Michie, Michael Ludwig, Matthew Luther, Chris Gardner, Chris Worthington, Cameron Boone, Daniel Metcalf, Rishi Konkesa, Noah Munn, Erik Darling and Thomas Joseph Catapano.
