East Islip Boy Scout Earns His Eagle Scout Badge

Press release from the Boy Scouts of America:

November 30, 2020

November 30, 2020…. Matthew Micalizzi, East Islip, New York, successfully completed his Eagle Board of Review on April 29, 2020, officially making him the 90th Eagle Scout of Troop 205 of Great River, East Islip, and Islip Terrace, NY. Matthew’s Eagle Court of Honor will be held on Tuesday, December 1, 2020, starting at 7:30PM in the Fellowship Hall at Trinity Lutheran Church, 111 Nassau Avenue, Islip, NY. A maximum of 50 will be present, all wearing facemasks during the ceremony.

Matthew is a member of Troop 205, sponsored by the Great River Fire Department, under the direction of Scoutmaster Mark Businski. On his “Road to Eagle,” Matthew has served Troop 205 as Assistant Patrol Leader, Troop Guide – working with his younger Scouts on their Rank Advancements, and Den Chief in Pack 205 with the Cub Scouts. Matthew was also elected by his fellow Scouts to be a member of the Order of the Arrow – Scouting’s Honorary Camping Society.

Matthew has had many unique Scouting experiences and has a total of 44 camping nights with the Troop. Some of his favorite camping experiences included attending Camp Baiting Hollow for three summer seasons, the Annapolis camping Trip, and serving as Chaplain’s Aide for the 2017 National Boy Scout Jamboree at the Bechtel Summit in West Virginia.

To become an Eagle Scout, a Scout must earn 21 merit badges, of which 13 are specifically Eagle required, progress through six rank advancements – from Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, then Eagle, and also plan, develop, and implement a major service project for the community. Matthew has actually earned 29 merit badges, where he earned the Bronze Palm for achieving 5 Merit Badges above the 21 required.

The Service Project that Matthew developed, planned, and implemented with the assistance of his fellow Troop members, friends, and family members was undertaking and constructing of eight “Busy Boards,” for the East Islip Elementary Schools – two for each of the four Elementary Schools. The “Busy Boards” are allowing students with special needs to further enhance their sensory skills through the use of these Boards.

Matthew has also earned the following awards and achievement in Scouts: Webelos Arrow of Light, Firem’n Chit, Tot’in Chit, Cyber Chip, and the Camping National Outdoor Award.

Matthew recently said this: “The journey through Scouting has taught me many things and allowed me to expose myself to experiences that I never would have had the opportunity to do otherwise. All of this has helped me so much and has made me a better person and leader.”

He went on to say, “Scouting has been a monumental part of my life. The memories have made, the friendships that have been found, and the skills I have obtained will all be something I will never forget. As my Scoutmaster says, ‘The best is yet to come.’ Scouting is just the beginning of a long time of community service, leadership, and helpfulness to others.”

Matthew is a June, 2020, graduate of the East Islip High School, where he was the Vice President and Secretary of the Mock Trial Team, served as the Social Media Director for the Student Council, the Stage Manager for the Middle School Production of Frozen Jr., the Stage Manager for the Key Club Talent Shows from 2018 through 2020, Stage Manager for the Student Council Lip Sync Battle in 2020, and a member of the Student Leadership Team member at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Islip, NY.

Matthew was on the Honor Roll in high school and member of the National Honor Society. He was voted by his fellow classmates as “Best in Show” for the East Islip High School Video Production Video. He was also a member of the Honors Wind Ensemble and Honors Symphony Orchestra, where he received “outstanding and above” Clarinet NYSSMA recognition.

Volunteering has been a way of life for Matthew as he has worked on many Eagle Scout Projects and has logged in 20.6 community Service Hours through Troop 205.

Matthew is currently a freshman at the Marion Military Institute, Marion, Alabama, where he is the recipient of the Marion Military Institute Band Scholarship for full academic tuition. Matthew is also part of the Honor Guard as well as being the Resilience Officer for his company. Marion Military Institute is a two-year public institution of higher learning that educates and develops cadets as future leaders through an immersive experiential military environment which integrates intellectual, leadership, character and physical development in order to prepare them for success in four-year colleges, U.S. service academies, and in military and civilian careers. Marion Military Institute has prepared young men and women for successful civilian and military careers since 1842. Its service academy preparatory school program began in 1910, and is the oldest in the United States. The Coast Guard’s affiliation with the Marion Military Institute began in 2003.

Matthew is the son of Laura and Larry Micalizzi. East Islip, NY, and is the oldest Brother to Ella and Joseph.

This press release was produced by the Boy Scouts of America. The views expressed here are the author's own.