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MANVILLE: Three Eagles soar in Troop 193

Three teens gain top rank in one ceremony

By Mary Ellen Zangara, Special Writer
    Three Boy Scouts from Troop 193 achieved the highest rank in Scouting on Sunday, Jan. 8. A triple Eagle Scout ceremony was held in the Scouts’ honor at the sponsoring VFW Post 2290.
    Jason Fiduk, Matthew Trond and John Osmond earned the Eagle rank. Leaders, fellow Scouts, family and friends gathered for the celebration. Troop 193 has had five Eagle Scouts, but these three are the largest group to achieve the honor at one time.
    “””I have watched these three guys — I ýPage=001 Column=001 OK,0007.06þ
promise not to get mushy — watched these guys grow up,” said Assistant Scoutmaster and Cubmaster Bruce Hixson.
    “”Presentations to the Scouts from various organizations came from VFW Post 2290 and its ladies auxiliary, and Mayor and Borough Council. Both Mayor Angelo Corradino and former Mayor Lillian Zuza presented the proclamation. Mayor Corradino was in office when the boys started in Boy Scouts, they completed their Eagle project while Mayor Zuza was in office and now they receive their Eagle rank with Mayor Corradino.
    Ms. Zuza said, “I have watched these young men for four years as I have come to these dinners. I have watched them mature and grow in knowing how hard they are working to meet their goals and today they did. I am so very proud of them for everything that they have accomplished.”
    ”Mayor Corradino said, “Being an Eagle Scout is no easy task. They committed the time, and the dedication they have shown gives them the sense of responsibility that they are going to carry their entire lives.”
    The boys received many letters of recognition — from President Obama and the First Lady, Governor Christie and Somerset County Freeholders, to name a few.
    Although the Scouts are not from Manville, all three attended school here and did their Eagle Scout project for the borough.
    “Leadership was the main thing that I learned,” said Jason Fiduk. ““I have never had to lead other people before and this gave me the chance and opportunity to do that. So hopefully in the future if I have to do something like that, I will be able to do it thanks to Scouts.”
    Jason started Scouting as a Webelo in 2004. His Eagle project was to mark the roads with white lines to allow for storm drains to be located in bad weather. With the help of other Scouts, family and friends, more than 500 lines were painted on the roads of Manville. He earned 31 merit badges during this Scouting years.
    Jason attended Christ the King School in Manville up to eighth grade and achieved honor roll and high honor roll every year. He played basketball and was involved in Student Council in grades five through eight. In eighth grade, he was the Student Council president and graduated as class salutatorian. He attended Immaculata High School in Somerville, where he continued achieving academic success. He participated in football from his freshman to junior year, was involved in Campus Ministry for two years and. in his senior year, he joined robotics. Jason graduated in the top 20 percent of his class.
    Jason is entering his second semester as a computer science major at Rowan University. ’He plans to get more involved in the campus ministry and is interested in joining the school EMS squad.
    ’When he is back from college, Jason said he will continue working with Boy Scouts in a leadership position whenever he can. His years with the troop were fun and rewarding, he said. He loved to go camping every summer and doing the daily Polar Bear Swim. He wants to pass on what he learned to others.
    John Osmond said he “had been looking forward to achieving the Eagle rank for years.
    “Ever since I joined the Boy Scouts I have been looking toward that goal wondering how long it would take to get it. In the end, I am here and I feel really accomplished. In order to do big projects like this, it involves a lot of planning to schedule stuff in advance and budget your time.”
    John joined the Cub Scouts in 2000 and he worked 11 years to attain his Eagle rank. John also attended Christ the King School for grades kindergarten to 8, and Immaculata High School.
    For his Eagle Scout project, John mapped out all the fire hydrants in Manville and compiled them onto a data sheet with the permission of the fire department. The project was carried out to allow Manville firefighters to locate hydrants in a timelier manner. John also earned 28 merit badges.
    John was active in the academic high school community. He participated in activities such as marching band, National Honor Society, robotics and Math League. John is in his second semester at the University of Maryland in College Park. He is undecided in his major but is leaning toward electrical or computer engineering. He is part of the honors program known as Gemstone, where one works with a team to complete a four-year research project. John tutors his peers in math and science and attends club activities, such as Filipino Culture Association and Engineers Without Borders. He hopes to find a parttime job as a tutor or teaching assistant.
    Despite studying out of state, John wishes to remain active with Troop 193 so that he could pass down his knowledge and experience to younger Scouts. The troop has played a major part in his life as he grew up, he said, so he would also like to be an influence in other’s lives.
Matthew Trond said he was “excited and nervous at the same time, but it is a big honor. It means a lot to me and to all of my family, too. I have worked very hard, sometimes procrastinating a lot. I learned not to do things at the last minute for the most part and to get things done and to follow through with what I have to do.”
    His Eagle project was connecting brick pads in the center grass oval of the Manville High School parking lot with brick pavers. He had the help of family, friends and fellow Scouts, as well as help from David’s Lawn and Landscape Design, Manville Masons Supply and Pantano Landscape Supply, and patience from the high school and school district.
    He attended Christ the King School for grades K-3, Roosevelt Elementary School, Alexander Batcho Intermediate School, Manville High School for grades 9-10 and is currently at Manalapan High School. Matthew is also a member of the Sea Cadets.