New Eagle Scout Kolby Rundio
GALLOWAY – “My mother made me an Eagle Scout.”
The words from a poem by Jack Pearson began Kolby Rundio’s speech at the Court of Honor Sunday, July 17 where he was sworn in as an Eagle Scout.
“I saw where a lot of kids recite that poem,” Rundio said after the ceremony. “I agree with it 100 percent.”
He said his favorite things in Scouting were a trip to the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, the National Jamboree at Fort AP Hill, Va., last July, and the New Jersey State Police Camporee.
“All of these offered canoeing, kayaking – adventuring,” Rundio said. “Instead of tying knots all day, you’re tying knots and climbing a 50-foot wall.”
His Eagle project received the support of the entire troop and more.
“There were just so many – I can’t keep count,” he said. “They were tremendous – a great group of people.”
If you had to summarize his Scouting career in one word, it would be “service” according to his troop leaders.
The Scout Law instructs Scouts to be helpful, and Rundio is said to be the poster boy for helpful and service.
“Our troop does many service projects,” Rundio said. “We have monthly road cleanups, the turtle fence project on the Margate causeway, flag placements at veterans cemeteries and Scouting for Food.”
Rundio, 16, son of Cheryl and Ron Rundio of Egg Harbor City, picked as his Eagle Scout project constructing and erecting three aluminum crosses at Assumption Church.
“Scouting has taught me to give back to my community,” Rundio said. “I graduated from Assumption School and I am a member of the parish, so this felt like a good way to give something back to the church community.”
Assumption Church is also the charter organization for Troop 634, which was founded in 2007. Rundio is its first Eagle Scout.
The three aluminum crosses stand next to the church and are visible from Pitney Road. They’re illuminated at night.
The center cross is 15 feet high and flanked by two 12-foot crosses.
Rundio received the go-ahead for the project in November 2009 from Assumption pastor Rev. Michael Matveenko.
Over the next 16 months, he nurtured and managed his project.
“I learned how to communicate and explain the details of what I wanted to do,” Rundio said. “I also learned how to manage people while on a job site, and how to do it safely.” He also learned the importance of asking for and receiving help, he said.
Some help came in the form of monetary donations from Assumption parishioners and from friends and family. The rest came in the form of sweat equity and donated or discounted labor.
“There were a lot of people who stepped up and helped, including Mr. Patrick Einwechter who helped with the concrete footings for the crosses, and Swenson Welding who fabricated the crosses,” Rundio said.
Also providing assistance were R. W. Brown Landscaping, donating the landscaping labor and materials; and Hart Painting, painting the crosses.
Rundio and his volunteers logged in a total of 232 hours on the project.
The moment of truth finally came on Feb. 26, 2011, when the crosses were raised.
“My favorite part of the project was bolting them in and seeing that they weren’t going to fall over,” Rundio said with a smile of relief.
The crosses were blessed and dedicated by Matveenko Sunday, April 3.
Rundio’s father said his son would take one step ahead and then three back as he worked on his project.
“It was two years in the doing,” Ron Rundio said. “He had a lot of roadblocks. People would volunteer and then back out.”
The project required a lot, he said.
“Each hole took a yard of concrete,” Rundio’s father said. “The finished project is great, with the sun casting shadows onto the church. It catches the light beautifully.”
Kolby Rundio sat for his Eagle Scout Board of Review on April 4, and completed his journey to Eagle at Sunday’s Court of Honor.
Rundio earned 43 merit badges – more than double the number required for Eagle.
He credited his parents for his success, with special thanks to Matveenko and his fellow Scouts in Troop 634.
A senior at Absegami High School, where he is on the wrestling team and once played freshman baseball, he is also a member of Germania Volunteer Fire Company.
After graduation he plans to attend college, enroll in an ROTC program and serve in the military with the goal of eventually becoming a New Jersey state trooper. He’d like to attend Key West Community College in Florida where he can study both fire science and criminal justice.
“Being an Eagle Scout will help open doors for me in the future,” Rundio said. “The skills I have learned in Scouting will last a lifetime. They open any door. It makes you feel like you can be president.”
According to his mother, Rundio was a Cub Scout, but not in Pack 634.
“But he was at the first Pack 634 crossover ceremony,” Cheryl Rundio said. “They were told, ‘I want to see each of you become Eagle Scouts one day.’ Kolby joined them with that group … and he is the first to become an Eagle.”
Presentations were made at Sunday’s Court of Honor in behalf of the Masons, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Knights of Columbus and U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo.
Sending honoring documents were the New Jersey State Police, state Senate and Assembly, Camden Diocese Bishop Joseph Galante and the region’s Boy Scout executive.
Participating in the ceremony were Rundio’s parents, Matveenko, Troop 634 Senior Patrol Leader Ryan Schromsky, Scoutmaster Todd Schromsky, Dr. Scott Strenger, Committee Chairman Glen Bailey, Dr. Gerald Vekteris and Scouts Thomas Bailey, Mike Baldwin, Andrew Vekteris, James Cottrell, Shane Bell, Robbie Swenson and David Keiser.
Rundio concluded the poem about his mother’s heart and leadership.
“My mother made me an Eagle Scout,” he said. “I will live my life throughout, an Eagle Scout.”
To comment on this story
email steve.prisament This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
@catamaranmedia.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Photos by Steve Prisament
alt Soon-to-be Eagle Scout Kolby Rundio, right, watches Troop 634 Scouts as they relax before formally presenting the colors. alt Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance are, from left, Troop 634 Committee Chairman Glen Bailey, Dr. Scott Strenger, Dr. Gerald Vekteris, Scoutmaster Todd Schromsky and, leading the pledge, Senior Patrol Leader Ryan Schromsky. alt Dr. Scott Strenger opens the Court of Honor with some anecdotes about Rundio as a young boy. alt Egg Harbor Township Deputy Mayor makes a presentation in behalf of U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo. alt Dr. Scott Strenger and Scouts discuss the Scout Law. From left, the Scouts are David Keiser, Robbie Swenson, Shane Bell, James Cottrell, Andrew Vekteris, Mike Baldwin, Thomas Bailey and Ryan Schromsky. alt Eagle Scout Aaron Shugarts swears in Kolby Rundio as Troop 634’s first Eagle. alt
|
Troop 634 swears in its first Eagle |
|
|
|
|
Written by STEVE PRISAMENT |
|
Thursday, 21 July 2011 11:48 |
|
GALLOWAY – “My mother made me an Eagle Scout.” The words from a poem by Jack Pearson began Kolby Rundio’s speech at the Court of Honor Sunday, July 17 where he was sworn in as an Eagle Scout. “I saw where a lot of kids recite that poem,” Rundio said after the ceremony. “I agree with it 100 percent.” He said his favorite things in Scouting were a trip to the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, the National Jamboree at Fort AP Hill, Va., last July, and the New Jersey State Police Camporee. “All of these offered canoeing, kayaking – adventuring,” Rundio said. “Instead of tying knots all day, you’re tying knots and climbing a 50-foot wall.” His Eagle project received the support of the entire troop and more. “There were just so many – I can’t keep count,” he said. “They were tremendous – a great group of people.” If you had to summarize his Scouting career in one word, it would be “service” according to his troop leaders. The Scout Law instructs Scouts to be helpful, and Rundio is said to be the poster boy for helpful and service. “Our troop does many service projects,” Rundio said. “We have monthly road cleanups, the turtle fence project on the Margate causeway, flag placements at veterans cemeteries and Scouting for Food.” Rundio, 16, son of Cheryl and Ron Rundio of Egg Harbor City, picked as his Eagle Scout project constructing and erecting three aluminum crosses at Assumption Church. “Scouting has taught me to give back to my community,” Rundio said. “I graduated from Assumption School and I am a member of the parish, so this felt like a good way to give something back to the church community.” Assumption Church is also the charter organization for Troop 634, which was founded in 2007. Rundio is its first Eagle Scout. The three aluminum crosses stand next to the church and are visible from Pitney Road. They’re illuminated at night. The center cross is 15 feet high and flanked by two 12-foot crosses. Rundio received the go-ahead for the project in November 2009 from Assumption pastor Rev. Michael Matveenko. Over the next 16 months, he nurtured and managed his project. “I learned how to communicate and explain the details of what I wanted to do,” Rundio said. “I also learned how to manage people while on a job site, and how to do it safely.” He also learned the importance of asking for and receiving help, he said. Some help came in the form of monetary donations from Assumption parishioners and from friends and family. The rest came in the form of sweat equity and donated or discounted labor. “There were a lot of people who stepped up and helped, including Mr. Patrick Einwechter who helped with the concrete footings for the crosses, and Swenson Welding who fabricated the crosses,” Rundio said. Also providing assistance were R. W. Brown Landscaping, donating the landscaping labor and materials; and Hart Painting, painting the crosses. Rundio and his volunteers logged in a total of 232 hours on the project. The moment of truth finally came on Feb. 26, 2011, when the crosses were raised. “My favorite part of the project was bolting them in and seeing that they weren’t going to fall over,” Rundio said with a smile of relief. The crosses were blessed and dedicated by Matveenko Sunday, April 3. Rundio’s father said his son would take one step ahead and then three back as he worked on his project. “It was two years in the doing,” Ron Rundio said. “He had a lot of roadblocks. People would volunteer and then back out.” The project required a lot, he said. “Each hole took a yard of concrete,” Rundio’s father said. “The finished project is great, with the sun casting shadows onto the church. It catches the light beautifully.” Kolby Rundio sat for his Eagle Scout Board of Review on April 4, and completed his journey to Eagle at Sunday’s Court of Honor. Rundio earned 43 merit badges – more than double the number required for Eagle. He credited his parents for his success, with special thanks to Matveenko and his fellow Scouts in Troop 634. A senior at Absegami High School, where he is on the wrestling team and once played freshman baseball, he is also a member of Germania Volunteer Fire Company. After graduation he plans to attend college, enroll in an ROTC program and serve in the military with the goal of eventually becoming a New Jersey state trooper. He’d like to attend Key West Community College in Florida where he can study both fire science and criminal justice. “Being an Eagle Scout will help open doors for me in the future,” Rundio said. “The skills I have learned in Scouting will last a lifetime. They open any door. It makes you feel like you can be president.” According to his mother, Rundio was a Cub Scout, but not in Pack 634. “But he was at the first Pack 634 crossover ceremony,” Cheryl Rundio said. “They were told, ‘I want to see each of you become Eagle Scouts one day.’ Kolby joined them with that group … and he is the first to become an Eagle.” Presentations were made at Sunday’s Court of Honor in behalf of the Masons, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Knights of Columbus and U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo. Sending honoring documents were the New Jersey State Police, state Senate and Assembly, Camden Diocese Bishop Joseph Galante and the region’s Boy Scout executive. Participating in the ceremony were Rundio’s parents, Matveenko, Troop 634 Senior Patrol Leader Ryan Schromsky, Scoutmaster Todd Schromsky, Dr. Scott Strenger, Committee Chairman Glen Bailey, Dr. Gerald Vekteris and Scouts Thomas Bailey, Mike Baldwin, Andrew Vekteris, James Cottrell, Shane Bell, Robbie Swenson and David Keiser. Rundio concluded the poem about his mother’s heart and leadership. “My mother made me an Eagle Scout,” he said. “I will live my life throughout, an Eagle Scout.”
Photos by Steve Prisament
|
