Four earn Eagle Scout rank in Bethel Park Troop 215
Four members of Bethel Park Troop 215 were honored on Oct. 25 for their achievement of the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts, that of Eagle Scout. Stephen Condre, Corey Kroboth, Nicholas McGowan and Patrick Raymond will be recognized at the Court of Honor ceremony at Bethel Presbyterian Church.
In addition to progressing through the ranks of Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star and Life Scout, the four young men had to complete the rigorous Eagle Scout requirements, which include being active in scouting for at least six months after achieving Life Scout rank; demonstrating that they live the principles of the Scout Oath and Scout Law by providing references; earning a total of 21 merit badges; while a Life Scout, serving in a position of leadership for six months and planning, developing and leading others in a service project benefitting an organization other than Boy Scouting; taking part in a unit leader conference; and successfully completing an Eagle Scout board of review.
Stephen Scott Condre
Stephen Scott Condre is the son of David and the late Susan Condre of Bethel Park. Stephen was a Cub Scout in Pack 228 where he earned the Arrow of Light prior to joining Troop 215.
As a member of Troop 215, Stephen has served as a patrol leader, scribe and chaplain’s aide.
Stephen’s Eagle Scout project was the starting of the “Yellow Dot” program in Bethel Park, a simple but effective free program in which participants are given a yellow dot to place on their rear window to alert emergency services personnel to look for a corresponding yellow sleeve in the glove box. The yellow sleeve folder contains a photograph, medical conditions, prescriptions and other vital information for up to three drivers of the car. Stephen raised the necessary funds to purchase 3,000 kits, which he distributed around Bethel Park with the help of friends, family and other scouts.
Stephen joined Cub Scouts when he was in first grade and enjoyed the activities, occasional campout and seeing friends. When he crossed over into Boy Scouts, Stephen joined Troop 215, where he learned about how to be a good leader, how to work well with others, various outdoor skills and how to respect authority and take orders. However, scouting was not all business, work and leadership, and one of Stephen’s favorite parts of scouting was having fun, whether it was late night games of capture the flag, ninja, canoeing or card games.
Scouting was also there through what was by far the hardest times in Stephen’s life, when his mother passed away last January. Stephen was surprised at how many scouts and leaders came out to support and show that they cared. He was touched by their support and he still thanks all of them to this day. Stephen is currently attending Robert Morris University.
Corey Christopher Bobb Kroboth
Corey Christopher Bobb Kroboth is the son of Brad and Susan Kroboth of Bethel Park. Corey will be joining his grandfather as an Eagle Scout, and he has a younger sister, Jenna, who is an active member of Girl Scout Troop 50189.
Corey was a Cub Scout in Pak 600 where he earned the Arrow of Light prior to joining Troop 215. Corey was tapped out for the Order of the Arrow and is a Brotherhood Member of the OA. Corey has held several leadership positions within Troop 215, serving as chaplain’s aide, assistant patrol leader and patrol leader of the Hawks, and has served as assistant senior patrol leader of meetings.
One of Corey’s favorite experiences in scouting was attending the Boy Scout Jamboree in 2010, which celebrated 100 years of scouting. Corey enjoyed meeting scouts from all over and participating in the exciting activities. An early scout experience for Corey was participating as a helper in the World Record-breaking Pinewood Derby contest at Kennywood.
Corey organized the Scout Sunday for 100 years of scouting that encompassed several local Boy and Girl Scout troops throughout Bethel Park in one worship service. He enjoyed planning patrol outings, many camping trips, two field trips to Washington, D.C., and the D-Day re-enactment.
Corey’s Eagle Scout Service Project benefitted Children’s Therapy Center in Waterdam Plaza. He contacted the director, who asked for assistance in improvements to the adaptive “Pirate Ship” themed playground. He provided sensory boards in the shape of fish so children had a variety of textures to feel. Scouts were instructed and supervised painting rocks with different shapes, colors and designs on them for a “Mobile Treasure Hunt,” where the key was painted on another constructed cut-out fish board. Therapists can design the treasure hunt to meet the needs of the client. Scouts built a storage shed to preserve small riding toys from the elements during the year. To complete the project, Corey directed the scouts to different areas of the playground that needed improvements such as weeding, re-painting, replacing some mulch with rubber mulch for safety and planting floral pots to beautify the playground.
Very active outside of Scouting, Corey is a senior at Bethel Park High School where he is a senator for student government. He is an active member of the Blackhawks marching band drumline, jazz ensemble and symphonic band, and he has played clarinet in the past three high school musicals. Corey has auditioned and been selected for PMEA Honors Band the past two years, as well as district band and regional band. Corey has been active in National Honor Society for the past two years. He has played men’s volleyball since eighth grade and was a varsity team member last year.
In his free time, Corey likes to go to the gym for Olympic weight lifting. He can be seen around the community as a soccer referee and working at Willi’s Ski Shop. Corey has volunteered numerous years at REACH work camp and has assisted in home renovations for families in need. Corey’s future plans are to attend a university and major in engineering.
Nicholas Charles McGowan
Nicholas Charles McGowan is the son of Don and Anne McGowan of Bethel Park. He has a younger sister, Jennifer, and a younger brother, Sean.
Nick achieved Eagle despite never being a Cub Scout and joining the program a year later than the boys his age. He reached his goal of becoming an Eagle Scout on July 20, 2014. Nick is also a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow.
As a member of Troop 215, Nick has served as a patrol leader, an assistant patrol leader and quartermaster. He considers his favorite scouting experiences to be the trips to Washington D.C., Gettysburg, the 130-mile bike trip on the Allegheny Passage bike trail and the 35-mile hike on the Laurel Highlands trail.
Nick’s Eagle project benefitted Neil Armstrong Middle School in Bethel Park. He cleared the area of brush and debris and then constructed a walking trail behind the school. The trail is 400 feet long and is lined with eight-foot garden timbers. Nick mulched the entire trail, and mapped out an orienteering course by plotting many different GPS points around the school. The orienteering course has five stations, and at each one he placed a box made out of decking wood. He mapped out the entire school using a Topcon GPS system and plotted the points for the boxes on the course. The fifth- and sixth-graders use this course in their gym class in the outdoor unit. It brings together math skills and gym class by having students look at the map and compass and figure out where they’re heading to get to a point.
Nick is also a member of the Bethel Park Chapter of the National Honor Society. He plays violin in the high school orchestra and is on the varsity football team. His goal for the future is becoming an officer in the United States military while furthering his education studying engineering and history.
Patrick Daniel Raymond
Patrick Daniel Raymond, son of Peggy and the late Michael Raymond, is a lifelong resident of Bethel Park. His older brother, Sean, a sophomore at the University of Dayton, is also an Eagle Scout, and his sister, Michelle, a sophomore in high school, is a Girl Scout working toward her Gold Award.
Patrick has been a scout since first grade. He earned his Arrow of Light and crossed over into Boy Scout Troop 215 in 2008. Patrick was tapped out for the Order of the Arrow and is a Brotherhood member of the OA. Patrick was a Tiger Patrol leader, a role in which he helped new members who had joined the troop and he was also the chaplain’s aide.
Patrick’s Eagle project was to build a rosary garden at Saint Thomas More Church, his home parish. The rosary, a prayer in honor of Mary, the Blessed Mother of Jesus, is typically made of beads, with a prayer being said on each bead. In his garden, Patrick used stepping stones for the beads and planted different colored flowers for the four mysteries of the rosary. White flowers were used for the Joyful Mysteries, red for the Sorrowful, purple for the Luminous Mysteries, and yellow for the Glorious. St. Thomas More parishioners and school students walk the stepping stones to make a prayerful journey.
Patrick has attended St. Thomas More Church Appalachia Mission trip the past two summers with the youth group, and he has helped to roof homes in West Virginia. He plays guitar and sings for the Youth Ministry group at St. Thomas More and portrayed Jesus in the Passion play. Patrick has played golf for Bethel Park for four years, three years as a varsity player. He plays the baritone in the marching band and concert band and is a member of Top 21, a high school choral group. Patrick has made district and region chorus as a tenor in the PMEA and is hoping to reach states this year. A member of the drama club, Patrick has performed in the play “The Need to Read” for local elementary schools. He enjoys the high school musicals and has been a cast member of “White Christmas,” “42nd Street” and “Children of Eden,” and is looking forward to the production of “West Side Story” this spring. Patrick’s future plans are to attend college.
It’s been quite a year for Bethel Park Troop 215, a troop that has a rich Eagle Scout tradition. In addition to the four being honored on Oct. 25, five additional troop members – Jack Brownfield, Joshua Como, Bryce DeNardo, David Hurey and Andrew Valentine – marked their Eagle Scout achievement this past March.