Eagle Scouts Honor Farmington's Szot

The following press release was submitted by Farmington Patch reader Rosemary Szot. 

On November 10th, 2013, an Eagle Court of Honor was held for Cordell Szot, of Troop 68, in Farmington, CT.   Ted Sanford, former Scoutmaster of Troop 68 was the Master of Ceremonies and Michael Prunk served as the Senior Patrol Leader.   Also speaking were William Simonds of the Mark Twain District, Doug Pelham, Current Scoutmaster of Troop 68, Frederic DeBaeck, former Scoutmaster of Troop 68 and Cordell’s Eagle advisor, Chris Hardiman, Chairman of the Troop 68 committee, Scott Brown, Executive Director of Winding Trails, Judy Witzke, Park Naturalist at Winding Trails, Mike Demicco, CT State Representative, John Vibert, Town Council, John Javarusky, immediate past-president of the Farmington Exchange Club which is Troop 68’s charter organization, and Brian Connolly of the Knights of Columbus. 

The awarding of the Eagle Badge is an important and serious occasion, the climax and the goal for which a Scout works for many years.  The attainment of the award is made possible through the assistance of many – his Scoutmaster, Troop leaders, fellow Scouts, parents, family, friends, and members of the community.  The Eagle Award is the highest and most coveted rank in Scouting, the last major step in the advancement program.  Less than 1 out of 50 scouts (or 2%) in the United States reach the Eagle Rank.  Becoming an Eagle Scout is a great accomplishment; being an Eagle Scout is a great responsibility. 

To become an Eagle Scout, a Scout must earn a minimum of 21 merit badges, including 12 of which are required.  He must serve actively in a troop leadership position for a period of six months after achieving the rank of Life Scout.  While a Life Scout, he must plan, develop, and carry out a service project helpful to a religious institution, school, or community in a manner worthy of an Eagle Scout.  He must demonstrate, through the testimony of character references and otherwise, that he lives by the principles of the Scout Oath and Law in his daily life.  Finally, he must appear before a Board of Review.

Cordell has been a member of Troop 68 for almost six years and he has earned 34 merit badges so far.  Cordell has served as Patrol Leader, Quartermaster, Scribe, Troop Guide and Instructor.  He is a member of the Order of the Arrow, and has earned special awards including Parvuli Dei Religious Emblem, Arrow of Light, Camp Workcoeman Polar Bear and Workcoeman Shawtown Survivor.  He has accrued 60 nights of camping, 103 miles of hiking and 56 service hours.  At the Bahamas High Adventure trip he received the Sea Base Captains Club and Snorkeling BSA Awards.  He was recently awarded the BSA Troop 68 Mountain Man Award for summiting the tallest peak in each of the six New England States. 

For Cordell’s Eagle project, he led the building of a Bird Blind at Phantom Pond, at Winding Trails.  The Eagle Court of Honor was held at Winding Trails, and after the reception, guests were invited to walk out to the Bird Blind and view the project.

Cordell received a congratulatory certificate from the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council presented by Brian Connolly, he received an Official Citation from the State of Connecticut General Assembly presented by Mike Demicco, and a Proclamation from the Farmington Town Council presented by John Vibert at the Eagle Court of Honor and Amy Suffredini at the Town Council meeting, and they proclaimed November 13, 2013 as Cordell Anthony Szot Day in Farmington.