PEPPERELL — Justin Stoffolano has earned the rank of Eagle Scout and will be honored at a Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony April 26 at VFW Post 3291.
Justin is a member of Troop 260 in Brookline, N.H., chartered by the American Legion in Brookline. Scoutmaster is Alistair Guthrie.
Justin resides in Pepperell with his parents, Bradley and Shan Stoffolano, and his brother, Matt. He is senior at Saint Bernard’s Central Catholic High School in Fitchburg and has been accepted to Norwich University’s Military Corps of Cadets as an international studies major.
His path to Eagle encompassed a diverse expanse of roles and activities within his troop and throughout the Daniel Webster Council of New Hampshire.
For his Eagle Project, Justin completed a 50-foot-by-2-foot stone retaining wall for VFW Post 3291 in Pepperell. The project was chosen to show his appreciation to the VFW Post members for their service to the country and for their local contributions to the Pepperell school community.
Their participation in the highly regarded Veteran’s and Memorial Day school assemblies taught him the value of civic responsibility, Justin said. With the help of veteran Tony Saboliauskas, Justin decided to build a retaining wall for the eroding hillside on the post property. The project would include a practical ecological function by promoting irrigation and preventing erosion while also enhancing the landscape of the grounds.
Justin held a spaghetti supper fundraiser at the VFW to fund the project. This fundraiser and the project were supported by a large contingent of Scouts from Troop 260, several local businesses and individual donations. Business contributors included: Ideal Concrete Block in Westford, Chartwell’s Catering at Fitchburg State University, Neil Stone’s Karate Academy of Brookline; The Walsh Brothers; the Pepperell Spa; and Dolce’s in Pepperell.
Justin’s trail to Eagle Scout began as a Cub Scout for Pack 14 in Pepperell. He later crossed over into Boy Scouts as a member of Troop 272 in Nashua, N.H. Justin built upon early leadership experiences by completing the National Youth Leadership Training Program at Camp Bell in 2011. In 2010, his troop selected him for induction into the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s honor society.
In June, he will return for his third summer as a staff member at the Griswold Scout Reservation in Gilmanton Ironworks, N.H. He spent his first year on the Hidden Valley staff as an emergency skills instructor teaching merit badges for first aid, emergency preparedness, public health, public speaking and communication. Last summer, he worked as a waterfront instructor and lifeguard at Camp Bell where he taught swimming, lifesaving, sailing and kayaking. He will return to the same position this summer where he also hopes to teach snorkeling and motor boating.
His experiences have included many additional highlights that have influenced his achievement. One notable highlight was attending the 2010 National Scout Jamboree at Fort AP Hill, Va. Here, he joined the New Hampshire contingent, along with more than 40,000 Scouts from across the country, for the centennial celebration of Boy Scouting in America.
Justin continues as an active member of Troop 260. He recently transitioned into the adult role of assistant scoutmaster and just completed his first camping trip with the troop in this role. Justin enjoys sharing his vast knowledge of the Scouting experience with new Scouts and plans to continue his participation in the troop and Order of the Arrow after his high school graduation in May.
