3 Local Teens Carry Out Community Projects To Reach Eagle Scout

SUDBURY, MA — Three members of Troop 65 in Sudbury have earned the rank of Eagle Scout, an award representing years of service, dedication, and leadership in the community.

Ariella Mitiguy and Julia Johnson were recognized at a Select Board meeting earlier this month and will officially have an Eagle Court of Honor ceremony on Feb. 1, while their peer, Allie Hanks, will be honored at a later ceremony.

The three girls began their scouting journey at 11 years old after joining Troop 65 in February of 2019. That was the first time girl troops were allowed to form after Scouting America, formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America, changed its rules.

Since then, they have learned skills such as hiking, camping, and wilderness survival. They have developed organizational and leadership skills and progressed through the seven Scout ranks: Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle.

Finally, to become an Eagle Scout, all three girls completed an Eagle Scout Service Project, a capstone to their scouting careers, in which they must "plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a serviceproject helpful to any religious institution, school, or community," according to Scoutmaster George Cooley.

Becoming a scout is a significant commitment, as Troop 65 meets weekly during the school year on Thursday nights and also has monthly outings such as camping or hiking. The scouts also spend one week of summer at camp.

Cooley told Patch that Mitiguy, Johnson, and Hanks have been scouts since Troop 65 was founded in Sudbury. The three girls are the seventh, eighth, and ninth scouts in the troop to ever reach the rank of Eagle.

"I want to recognize that when scouts first join the troop at age 10 or 11, they are little kids. In a very short amount of time, they transform into adults," Cooley told Patch.

Cooley, who has been the scoutmaster for seven years, said his time has been meaningful to him, as he has gotten to see the kids grow and feel like he has played a role in shaping the kinds of adults they become.

"It's hitting harder this year than ever as the Eagle Scouts we are recognizing now are those who were the very youngest members when we started, and have also played such key roles in developing the troop into the high-performing organization it has become," Cooley told Patch.

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Johnson's Project: The Cookbook Library at Open Table in Maynard

Johnson, who volunteered at the organization for five years, focused her project on providing a free, accessible 'Cookbook Library' outside of the facility. The library provides the community with cookbooks in over seven languages.

The library is also meant to promote healthier habits and lifestyle choices.

Finally, Johnson was able to make a large financial donation to benefit Open Table thanks to all of the generous contributions to her project.

Mitiguy's Project: Drives, Donations at Inn and Conference Center in Lowell

For her scouting project, Mitiguy organized a series of drives and donations for one of the local homeless family shelters at the Inn and Conference Center in Lowell.

Mitiguy met with social workers at the shelter and proposed three parts for her project.

First, she ran a drive to collect items for infants and families, including gently used infant clothes and gear like bouncy seats, strollers, and high chairs.

Next, she created a library of multilingual children's books at the shelter, and finally, she ran a diaper and wipes drive with the Curtis Angels, a group of middle school-aged students who engage in community service.

By the time the series of projects was complete, the shelter social worker requested that Mitiguy use the remaining funds, about $1,500, to help residents move into apartments.

She used the funds, raised from her bake sale and donations, to create a set of eight "apartment kits," which included items like bedding, towels, dishes, glassware, storage containers, and bins.

Hank's Project: Playground Equipment Shed at Peter Noyes Elementary School

For her project, Hanks decided to build a shed for playground equipment at Peter Noyes Elementary School in Sudbury.

The shed provides easy access to and organization of the playground's toys. It is meant to encourage students to use and share the equipment during recess and to foster healthy children through outdoor play, the development of motor skills, and the navigation of peer relationships.

Troop 65 will recognize Johnson and Mitiguy during a special Eagle Court of Honor, with Hanks being honored at a later date. The ceremony on Sunday, Feb. 1, will be attended by family and friends, fellow scouts, and local and state officials.

At the ceremony, the girls will officially take the "Eagle Charge" and commit to living by a high moral standard for the rest of their lives. The community will also pledge to support them so they can best live up to their commitment, Cooley told Patch.

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