Member of Troop 4 in Peters Township achieves Eagle Scout rank
William Michael Wivagg of Scout Troop 4, Peters Township, was recognized for attaining the rank of Eagle Scout in a Court of Honor ceremony held Jan. 8 at St. Louise de Marillac Church in Upper St. Clair.
The final hurdle in the quest for this highest Rank for Boy Scouting is a community-service Eagle Project. The candidate must be in charge of all aspects of the project, including planning, financing, implementation, completion and final presentation of the completed project to a committee of Boy Scout leaders.
Billy’s Eagle project benefitted a mission in Kenya by collecting used clothing, toiletries and Bibles for the mission for impoverished women and their children. He organized the Scouts of Troop 4 on several workdays to construct and set up donation boxes in various locations, directed scouts to solicit items and sort and package the items.
He raised $3,442 through a Sarris Candies sale, Dress Down Day at Seton LaSalle High School, organizing a car wash and receiving other donations. With the funds, he was able to ship 100 Bibles, toiletries and some clothing in two boxes. The remaining clothing was donated to St. Vincent de Paul.
In all, 18 Scouts volunteered 199 hours. Seven Troop 4 adults contributed 114 hours, and five others added an additional 17 hours, totaling 330 hours.
Russ Spicuzza, Scouting representative of South Hills Elks Lodge 2213 in Bethel Park and the Upper St. Clair-Bethel Park Breakfast Rotary, gave a short congratulatory talk and presented the new Eagle Scout with two framed certificates of merit, one each from the local and National Elks Lodge in Chicago. He also presented Billy with a certificate from Rotary recognizing his accomplishments.