Boy Scouts Provide Leadership, Creativity To Award-Winning Robotics Team

Life Scout Vineeth Bhuvanagiri, Troop 322, Star Scout Kevin Johnston, Troop 567, Life Scout Ian Pittwood, Troop 567 and Star Scout Brian Roth, Troop 169, make up "The Oddly Charged Particles."

Scouts display their character and values in all venues. During the last few years, a group of Scouts in the Greater St. Louis Area Council formed the robotics team, “The Oddly Charged Particles.” The team’s robot won awards at the St. Louis Regional FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) in December, 2009, at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley.

Thirty-two teams brought their mid-sized robots to compete in the “HOT SHOT!” game.  The Oddly Charged Particles were the Captain of the Winning Alliance as well as the recipients of the Inspire Award, which entitles them to represent the region at the World Festival in Atlanta.

Tech Challenge team students work with mentors to build a robot to run in autonomous and operator-controlled modes.  This year’s challenge required teams to design and build a ball-shooting mechanism and a way to gather the 76 balls on the playing field.  Teams compete in qualifying rounds and form alliances in the playoffs.  The Winning Alliance was the Oddly Charged Particles, Astromechs from Kansas City and the Shrapnel Sergeants from Hazelwood West.

The Inspire Award is a formal-judged award that honors the team that performs well in all categories. It is viewed by other teams as the most desirable alliance partner and by judges as best exemplifying all components of the FIRST Tech Challenge philosophy.

The Oddly Charged Particles’ coaches are Ron Pittwood and Vijay Bhuvanagiri.  The team members are Vineeth Bhuvanagiri (Eureka High), Kevin Johnston, Chris Novatny, Ian Pittwood (Selvidge Middle), Brian Roth (Lindbergh High) and John Stegeman (John Burroughs).

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a not-for-profit public charity that designs accessible, innovative programs that motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills.  For more information, go to www.usfirst.org or email FTC@StLouisFIRST.org

Lindenwood Awards $10,000 Scholarship To Honor Medal Recipient

Joshua S. Newsham, recipient of the Honor Medal from the Boy Scouts of America, receives a $10,000 scholarship from Joe Parisi, Lindenwood University's Dean of Undergraduate Admissions. Photo courtesy of Lindenwood University.

 

Joshua S. Newsham, a  Boy Scout who received the Honor Medal during a National Court of Honor in January, received a $10,000 scholarship to Lindenwood University on Thursday. He also received the university’s first $500 Boy Scouts of America Centennial Scholarship award. Joe Parisi, the Dean of Admissions at Lindenwood University, presented the award at Parkway South High School. 

“Since 1998, Lindenwood has offered a Boy Scouts of America program that rewards personal character and community service,” Parisi said.  “When we learned of Joshua’s act of heroism we selected him not only as the recipient of a scholarship under our existing program, but also as the recipient of our $500 centennial award.” 

Newsham, 17, is a junior at Parkway South and also attends South County Technical School, where he’s enrolled in the Firefighting program. He is a First Class Scout in Troop 787, chartered to Carmen Trails Elementary School in the Parkway School District. On Jan. 20, 2010, Newsham received the medal during the Greater St. Louis Area Council’s Friends of Scouting Kickoff Dinner. He used his skills to rescue a man who had fallen through ice and into the Meramec River during the winter of 2009. (Click here to watch an interview of Joshua at the scene of the rescue.) 

“Joshua exemplifies those qualities that Lindenwood holds in the highest regard,” Parisi said. “He is more than deserving of these scholarships and we are proud he will become a part of our learning community.” 

Lindenwood University has offered a Boy Scouts of America scholarship program since 1998. The Boy Scouts of America will celebrate its 100th anniversary on Monday, Feb. 8, 2010, and Lindenwood created a $500 Boy Scouts of America Centennial Scholarship. The aid will be available until Dec. 31 and awarded to all students who are already eligible to receive funds under Lindenwood’s existing Boy Scouts of America scholarship program.

Eagle Nests Dedicated In Memory Of Scoutmaster

A former Scoutmaster and Missouri American Water employee and who built nesting boxes to improve eagle habitat throughout St. Louis County and helped many boys become Eagle Scouts now has two nests dedicated in his memory.

Matt Hollis, former Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 950, chartered to Jana Elementary School’s PTA in the North Star District, died suddenly in November, 2009.  Missouri American Water, AmerenUE and his troop worked together to build two eagle nests in his memory.

The City of St. Louis’ Chain of Rocks Water Treatment Plant provided space for installation of an 80-foot pole for the nest. The World Bird Sanctuary assisted with the site selection. AmerenUE and Missouri American Water employees installed the pole on Friday, Jan. 15.

View video of installation of from KSDK…

The second nest was a life-size model for Eagle Day visitors to view and climb into.Visitors learned about eagle nests during the Confluence Partnership’s Eagle Days.

Troop 950 built both eagle nest platforms with materials and support from Missouri American Water teams. Scouts, leaders and parents from Troop 950 held a dedication ceremony and unveiled a plaque on Saturday, Jan. 16. The World Bird Sanctuary also brought an eagle to the dedication.

The nesting box program is a unique collaboration that supports the conservation efforts of the above organizations to reestablish the population of eagles, which was formerly an endangered species.

View photos from the event…

What Does Scouting Do? Listen to Jack O’Neill, 2009 National Order of the Arrow Chief

Jack O’Neill, an Eagle Scout from Troop 169, chartered to Assumption Catholic Church in South St. Louis County, was elected National Chief of the Order of the Arrow in December, 2008. It was the first time a member of the Council’s Shawnee Lodge was elected National Chief.

He served in many positions in the Order of the Arrow and on our council’s summer camp staff. He traveled tens of thousands of miles in promoting Scouting’s honor society as National Chief. The video is his opening speech from the National Order of the Arrow Conference, held at Indiana University last summer.

The Boy Scouts of America’s programs develop character and leadership in young people. Jack O’Neill is a shining example of this.

Boy Scout To Receive Heroism Award For Rescuing Man Who Fell Through Ice In Meramec

More than 50,000 young men earn the rank of Eagle Scout each year, but less than 50 receive a heroism award from the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

A Boy Scout who rescued a man who fell through ice and into the Meramec River last year will receive a heroism award during a National Court of Honor Ceremony on Wednesday during the Greater St. Louis Area Council’s Friends of Scouting Kickoff Dinner. He learned how to do a reaching rescue on ice earlier in his Scouting career.

On Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009, Joshua S. Newsham and four of his friends were walking near the Meramec River in Castlewood State Park.  They saw a dog break away from a man, run out on the ice and break through.  The dog’s owner ran out on the ice after his pet, fell through the ice and was fully immersed.  He struggled to keep his arms atop the ice as the current began to push him downstream.

Joshua ran to the water’s edge, grabbed a long stick and waded through chest-deep water to do a reaching rescue.  After an unsuccessful attempt with the stick, he used a commando crawl to navigate the ice and reach the man.  Joshua calmed the man, grabbed him by his shirt collar with both hands and pulled him out of the water and on the ice.  They both returned to shore. The dog was able to follow the path of broken ice and reach the shore.

Joshua, 17, is a First Class Scout in Troop 787, chartered to Carmen Trails Elementary School in the Parkway School District.  He is attending South County Technical School and majoring in the Firefighting program.

Watch story on from Fox 2 newscast on Monday night…