WHAT’ S NEWS IN WEST ALLEGHENY
BOY SCOUT TROOP 248 OF OAKDALE, FRONTIER DISTRICT, CELEBRATES EAGLE SCOUTS
The Eagle Scout Rank is the highest honor and rank advancement offered to the members of the Boy Scouts of America. Only two of every 100 male youth in America are able to attain this honor. To witness Eagle Scout presentations to six scouts is an extraordinary event.
The formal presentation of the Eagle was held on Sunday, Jan. 29, at the new North Fayette Community Center Complex in Oakdale. The Scouts included:
Michael Starkman, son of Alfred and Robin Starkman, planned, coordinated and carried out a youth ministries work party doing maintenance work for those in need and work at his church. Along with coordinating the work, he arranged meals for all the volunteers. He plans on attending a four-year university majoring in financial economics, and continuing on to
2 H 4 H 8 earn an MBA in economics.
Outside of scouting, Starkman was West Allegheny High School class president for 11th and 12th grade, Students Against Destructive Decisions group treasurer, head of media and production at the Elevate Youth Ministries, West Allegheny Senior High School class vice president for 10th grade, student ambassador for West Allegheny School for 10th, 11th and 12th grade, and captain of the West Allegheny varsity soccer team.
Noah Magdich, son of Jason and Nicole Magdich, raised funds and installed an upgraded climate control system in the Scott Township K-9 Patrol Vehicle and funded the purchase of a bullet- and stab-proof K-9 vest for the Scott Township K-9 officer“ Lord.” The balance of the funds earned was donated to the Scott Township Police Department for future use and care of the K-9 unit. He plans on enlisting in the U. S. Marine Corps and continuing education in auto mechanics. He also plans to pursue and explore additional forms of martial arts training.
Outside of scouting, Magdich volunteers with the Presto Volunteer Fire Department, attends House of Martial Arts Karate Academy and Parkway West Technical Center. He was selected to serve as one of the 153 delegate representatives from the BSA Laurel Highlands Council Order of the Arrow Allohak Menewi Lodge # 57 to the 2015 National Order of the Arrow Conference in Lansing, Michigan. He earned the National BSA Order of the Arrow 100th Anniversary“ Centuries of Service” Award, and assists as a youth instructor at the House of Martial Arts Karate Academy.
Cory James Supan, son of Bill and Kelli Supan, built a sidewalk that went out to and around a flagpole in Fairview Park in South Fayette Township. He also planted flowers between the sidewalk and the flagpole, building two concrete platforms that had two rows on them, each with five seats. He put in a total of 20 seats that were refurbished stadium seats from Camden Yards, the professional baseball stadium. These seats overlook a baseball field and a multipurpose field at the park. The project logged over 400 community service hours.
Supan is a member of South Fayette High School Hoopers rec league basketball and an auxiliary member of the Oakridge Volunteer Fire Department. He currently attends Waynesburg University, majoring in Criminal Justice and is a member of the
Waynesburg University wrestling team. After college, he plans to attend the police academy.
Nathan P. Mavrich, son of Debby and Marty Mavrich, built and installed pollinator insect shelters to assist with pollination of plants, flowers and vegetables. His crew built 20 colony houses and installed 10 at designated areas in Raccoon Creek State Park. An additional 10 houses were built and left with the park ranger ecology staff for cleaning of existing units and change-outs as needed. The building of the 20 colony homes took the precision drilling of over 5,000 holes. Bees, honey bees, and some of the other 20 pollinator insects are on steep decline in the USA, and the building of these types of shelters provides them with muchneeded protection and provides nesting colonies to help pollinate plants in our area. Mavrich plans to attend a four-year college or university and major in information technology.
Mavrich is a team tech leader for Youth Ministries at Crossroads Church, a member of the West Allegheny Schools Show Choir, West Allegheny Photography Club, West Allegheny STEM Club, National Honor Society, PA CYBER Patriot Club and Raspberry PI Club.
Michael James Behr, son of Michael and Jennifer Behr, fabricated and installed deerproof fencing at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden to protect over 80 different species of fragile and endangered plants and young trees from over-browsing at the garden. He plans to pursue a bachelor’ s degree in architecture or civil engineering.
Behr is a member of the West Allegheny German Club, the 2016 West Allegheny School German Club Germany tour, West Allegheny varsity boys tennis team, varsity letterman in tennis and has numerous awards for academic excellence, honor roll, and academic accomplishments at West Allegheny Senior High School.
Lochlann M. Gilbert( Lake), son of Christopher and Stacey Gilbert, performed the repair and extension of a fence line on the Panhandle Trail in Oakdale. The fence line not only is aesthetically pleasing, it also provides a safety barrier for the people using the trail in that it runs parallel along a steep embankment above the creek. The extension
6 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | West Allegheny