- Photo by Allison Rodilosso
New Eagle Scout Austin Harvey speaking about what Scouting has meant to him at his induction ceremony last month.
Scouting will never lose its traditions, its fineness. Young Scouts learn lifelong skills and important values. They grow into self-reliant, responsible citizens. Those rare few who achieve the rank of Eagle Scout are planners, leaders, and exceptional young men.
Austin Harvey joined those ranks on May 23 at a ceremony at Community Synagogue, where he developed and led the creation of a spiritual pathway leading to a prayer garden and outdoor classroom.
In 2020, that wasn’t Austin’s only accomplishment. At the height of the pandemic, in the spring, Austin felt compelled to help. He spent 170 hours doing whatever task was needed by the NYS Nurses Association, which had set up camp at the Doral Arrowwood and whose members were working double shifts at local hospitals. He became an invaluable staff member, setting up a grab-n-go station, transporting donations of food and supplies, clean whatever needed cleaning.
Volunteerism is part of his DNA. In his Rye Neck High School career, Austin earned over 340 community service hours helping at food pantries, nature center cleanups, clothing drives, and Midnight Runs.
He also was a High Honor Roll student all four years and plays in a Hockey Premier League. Two years ago, he won the American Legion Memorial Day essay prize.
At the Eagle Court of Honor, when Austin Harvey was asked to reaffirm his commitment to Eagle and Scouting principles, he stood tall and proudly.
This fall, Austin will join the Corps of Cadets at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, where he was accepted into the School of Engineering and will concentrate in Biomedical Engineering.
His desire to “help people live better and more productive lives” never wavers.
