CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
(From left to right) Thomas Robertson and Hunter Bernier
DERBY — Doing good things to benefit their local communities is what the members of Derby Scout Troop 3 have been proud to do for the past 107 years.
The latest good news from Troop 3 comes from Scoutmaster Randy Ritter, who recently announced the two newest members to attain Scouting’s highest honor, Eagle Scout rank.
Thomas Robertson, 19, son of Scott and Annette Robertson, of Seymour and Hunter Bernier, 16, son of Kristian and Karen Bernier, of Beacon Falls, recently became Troop 3’s 316th and 319th Eagle Scouts, respectively.
Thomas and Hunter received their Eagle Scout badges earlier this month at an Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony held at the Derby 2nd Congregational Church, Troop 3’s sponsor and home base.
On hand to congratulate them were Derby Mayor Richard Dziekan, Housatonic Council President Gary Parker, representatives of Seymour First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis and Beacon Halls First Selectman Gerard Smith. Both scouts also received congratulatory letters from state Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, the White House and the Connecticut State Legislature.
“Fewer than five percent of all scouts nationally complete all of the requirements to become an Eagle Scout, so we are quite proud of Thomas and Hunter, who accomplished this during the pandemic,” Ritter said in a prepared statement. “Both of these young men are fine role models for our younger scouts and they will continue to make us proud as active participants of their communities.”
For his Eagle Scout project, Thomas partnered with the Seymour-Oxford Food Bank. He collected thousands of non-perishable food items and monetary donations which enabled the food bank pantry to restock its shelves after the winter holiday season. Thomas knew the need for food is a year ‘round effort.
“I realized those who use the food bank still need food that I could provide if I committed myself to helping,” Thomas said. “I collected food starting in January and through the month of March. My project garnered support from my troop, my family, local supermarkets, church congregations and public schools that all agreed to help me collect and donate as much resources as possible. I have so many people to thank for helping my dream become a reality.”
According to Ritter, Thomas joined Cub Scout Pack 3 in Derby as a Tiger Cub in 2008, where he achieved Cub Scouting’s highest honor, the Arrow of Light. He’s been a member of Troop 3 for eight years, and currently serves as an Assistant Scoutmaster, and serves as choir director and stage manager of the annual Scout Gang Show.
A 2020 graduate of Seymour High School, Thomas was a member of the track and cross country teams. He was the 2020 recipient of the Ed & Caroline Eagle Scout Scholarship, and currently attends SCSU where he’s pursuing a career in social work or teaching.
Hunter, who’ll be a junior this fall at Emmett O’Brien Technical High School, chose to spruce up the prayer garden at Christ Church in Ansonia, where he’s a lifelong member, for his Eagle Scout project. He enlisted the help of his family and parish members to refurbish the garden, which hadn’t seen any improvements for three decades.
“I attend this church and realized that the prayer garden had been neglected, so I wanted to recreate an outdoor space for people in the community to have a quiet, peaceful place they could go to relax or pray,” Hunter said. “Becoming an Eagle Scout was important to me because it means that I had the perseverance and determination to complete a goal. I now hope to inspire younger scouts to continue to reach for their goals.”
Hunter’s scouting journey began in 2010 as a member of the Tiger Cub Pack in Beacon Falls, where he earned the God and Me, and God and Family awards as well as the world conservation award, all 20 Webelos pins and the Arrow of Light award. He later joined Troop 3 Derby, where his uncles were once members. Hunter has earned a total of 48 merit badges and is also a member of Venture Crew 33 and Sea Scouts Ship 110.
Boys ages 11 and older interested in joining Troop 3 can contact Ritter at 203 – 733-5347.
