East Islip Boy Scout Earns Eagle Scout Badge

Michael Lawrence Grey recently successfully completed his Eagle Board of Review officially making him the 69th Eagle Scout of Troop 205 of Great River, East Islip, and Islip Terrace.

Michael’s Eagle Court of Honor will be held on Saturday, December 17 starting at 10 a.m. at Timber Point Elementary School on 200 Timber Point Road in East Islip.

He is currently a member of Troop 205, sponsored by the Great River Fire Department, under the direction of Scoutmaster Mark Businski.

On his “Road to Eagle”, Michael has served Troop 205 as Troop Guide, Assistant Patrol Leader, and Den Chief with Pack 205.

His scouting experiences include attending and participating in National Boy Scout Jamboree in 2013 at the Bechtel Summit High Adventure Base in West Virginia, was a summer camper for three seasons at Camp Wakpominee in the Adirondack Mountains, Ft. Ann, NY, and was a weekend camper for many Troop 205 campouts on and off Long Island.

Michael was also elected by his fellow scouts and is a member of the Order of the Arrow – Scouting’s honorary camping society.

In order to become an Eagle Scout, the Scout must earn 21 merit badges, of which 12 are specifically Eagle required, progress through six rank advancements – from Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, then Eagle, and also plan, develop, and implement a major service project for the community.

Michael has actually earned a total of 26 merit badges.

The Service Project that Michael developed, planned, and constructed with the assistance of his fellow Troop members, friends and family members, was at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Great River, NY – demolishing existing cement steps and installing a handicapped-accessible concrete ramp for entry into the Church with railings on both sides, along with refurbishing and rebuilding three benches on the Church grounds.

“Achieving the Eagle Scout Rank will help me in successfully being admitted to the college of my choice,” he said. “I’d like to follow my interest in the US Military, preferably the US Army – by first attending some form of military school like the Virginia Military Institute.”

Currently, he is a Junior at St. Dominics High School, where he received Second Honors in 2015 and has been awarded an Academic Scholarship.

Michael has been the St. Dominics Chess Club Coordinator this academic year and has been on his High School Football and Junior Varsity Soccer teams. He has also played sports out of school on the East Islip Power Soccer Intertown Team from 2011 through this year, where he has also served as Game Captain.

Providing community service has been part of Michael’s life – not only within Troop 205 Eagle Scout Service Projects that he has actively participated, but also a “Just for Kicks” volunteer – with the East Islip Soccer Program for Youngsters with Developmental Needs from 2014 through this year. In 2014, Michael was granted the James Picken Award for excellence in volunteer service while at Grace Day School.

He was also an honors student while at Grace Day School in 2013 and 2014 and a member of the National Junior Honor Society while a student at St. Peters by the Sea, Bay Shore, NY, in 2012.

Michael is the son of Lawrence Grey, who is an Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 205 and co-Activity of the Troop’s successful summer camp program for many years, and Dr. Kathleen Frost of East Islip,

He is also a brother to siblings Stephen, Elizabeth Kiviat, Nick Kiviat, and newborn nephew Benjamin Lawrence Kiviat.

Congratulations to Michael Lawrence Grey!