Lombard Scout Stephen Andrusyk earns Eagle Scout award
On Aug. 3, Stephen Andrusyk of Scouts BSA Troop 202 earned his Eagle Scout award which is the highest honor in Scouts BSA.
The 17-year-old is currently in his seventh year with Troop 202, chartered through Faith United Methodist Church in Lombard. In order to achieve this award, the Glenbard East senior had to work his way up the ranks earning specific Merit Badges and requirements. He has earned a total of 43 merit badges and is a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow.
One major part of his Eagle journey was to lead a service project that benefits the community. He planned and implemented a project to create and install four planter boxes for Sacred Heart School where he attended kindergarten through eighth grade.
In order to build these planters, he had to solicit for donations to acquire the materials. He was able to secure donations from the Lombard Garden Club, Veterans of Foreign War Lombard Lilac Post 5815, Lombard ACE Hardware, Schwartz Nursery, and several local families.
With the help of family, friends and his Scout Troop, Stephen was able to build four large planting containers that will be used over and over every season.
On Thursday, May 20, Stephen presented the finished boxes to Sacred Heart School Principal Maureen O'Neill Nielsen. The boxes were placed in the playground area and at the school entrance. Stephen and his Scout helpers, Conor Kaefer, Joe Rozycki and Dylan Schwantner, put the boxes in place and filled the pot inserts with soil so they were ready for planting. Several of the Sacred Heart classes have been growing vegetables in these planters.
The Sacred Heart Garden will provide fresh produce to its St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry throughout the growing season.
With Troop 202, Stephen had many adventures at meetings and campouts. He had the opportunity to go canoeing in the Boundary Waters and spent a week in Florida at Scouts BSA's Sea Base. He served as Senior Patrol Leader for two terms, one of which was during the quarantine at the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic. He managed to still run effective meetings with the troop over the Zoom platform.
As an Eagle, Stephen plans to continue his career in scouting as a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 202 helping fellow scouts earn their own way up to Eagle.
In addition to being a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster with his troop, Stephen is also active in Addison Fire Protection District's Explorer Post 343. He plans to continue his education in college with a major in fire science.
Stephen has been supported in scouting by his parents, David and Mary Andrusyk of Lombard.