Two Troop 45 Boy Scouts advance to highest rank of Eagle

WARWICK-Warwick's Boy Scouts of America Troop 45 continued its impressive record when it advanced two more of its members to the rank of Eagle. They would become the 57th and 58th Eagle Scouts from the troop since it was organized in 1960. The statistics are remarkable since only about two percent of all scouts attain this rank, the highest one awarded in scouting. On Saturday, July 31, Troop 45 presented the awards at an "Eagle Court of Honor" for Stefan P. Katz, the son of Helmuth and Barbara Katz and Stephen C. Mariconti, the son of Stephen and Margarite Mariconti. The event was held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, which sponsors Troop 45. "Just look at the long list of Eagle Scouts who came from this troop," said Warwick Town Supervisor Michael Sweeton. "Much of the credit for that belongs to the scout leaders." Kenneth Wojtak is the current Scoutmaster of Troop 45. His Assistant Scoutmasters are Thomas Fivehouse, Dr. Patrick Michel, Benjamin Pearce Sr., James Fivehouse and Matthew Semerano. Stephan Katz joined Troop 45 in 1996. He served as a senior patrol leader and instructor and earned 30 merit badges. Katz graduated from Warwick Valley High School in 2003. He was a member of the National Honor Society , the track & field team, swimming team, debate team and Captain of the crew team. Katz is now a sophomore at the University of Delaware where he's a member of the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), the sailing team and crew team. He's pursuing a course of study with dual majors in Geography and History. Katz's Eagle Project involved building two bridges and improving a "Nature Trail" at Sanfordville School. Stephen Mariconti also joined Troop 45 in 1996. He served as patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader and instructor and earned 26 merit badges. Mariconti graduated from Warwick Valley High School in 2003. He was a member of the National Honor Society, crew team and swimming team as well as St. Stephen's Catholic Church Youth Group and Community Outreach Program. Mariconti is a sophomore at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, majoring in Civil Engineering. He a member of the university's crew team and also continues to offer his skills as a pianist. Mariconti's Eagle Project was landscaping a vacant area outside St. Stephen's - St. Edward's School. Thanks to his efforts, the garden he built now has various plantings, crushed stone pathways, benches and a statue of St. Francis. "When I told my four-year-old son Henry that I was coming to this Eagle Court ceremony for these two fine scouts," said Mayor Michael Newhard, "he asked me if that meant they can now fly like Superman. I answered, ‘Yes - sort of."