Bryant Avondoglio earns Eagle Scout rank

Andover-Bryant Joseph Avondoglio has earned the Boy Scouts of America's highest accolade, the Eagle Scout Award. He is a member of Boy Scout Troop 81, Patriots' Path Council in Andover. The Eagle Scout Award is a performance-based achievement with specific requirements and criteria fulfilled in leadership, service and outdoor skills. Avondoglio carried out his Eagle Scout project at the non-profit, Sussex County Homestead Nursing Home. Members of both the Troop and the community assisted him in designing and building an outdoor patio for use by the Homestead's residents and their families and friends. The project was a success, thanks to many community members and businesses, especially Grinnell Pavers who generously donated all of the paving stone products. Avondoglio recently graduated from Newton High School where he was a member of the Spanish National Honor Society, the Interact Club and served as student council vice president. In the Summer of 2002, he was appointed to the United States House of Representatives as a Republican Page, upon the recommendation of Rep. Marge Roukema (R-5). He also is a parishioner at Good Shepard Roman Catholic Church in Andover. He will begin his college studies shortly at George Washington University, Washington, D.C., where he will major in political science. An Eagle Court of Honor declaring Avondoglio an Eagle Scout was held on Aug. 15 at Perona Farms. Speakers included: Assemblywoman Alison McHose, Assemblyman Guy Gregg, Freeholder Gary Chisano and representatives of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the American Legion. Scoutmaster Tom Howard and Rev. Monsignor Richard Steiger of Good Shepherd Roman Catholic Church also spoke. Avondoglio is the son of Virginia Masar-Avondoglio and Mark Avondoglio. He is the grandson of Joseph and the late Virginia Masar of Ogdensburg and Maureen and Victor Avondoglio of Andover Township. He is the great-great grandson of Emil and Angiolina Perona who founded the family business of Perona Farms in 1917. Although only four percent of all Boy Scouts achieve this level, thousands of young men have followed in the footsteps of Arthur R. Eldred, who qualified for the first Eagle award in May 1912. Among them are: Astronaut Neil Armstrong, who was the first man to step on the moon; former U.S. Sen. and New York Knick Bill Bradley; James Brady, former press secretary to President Ronald Reagan; Dr. William C. DeVries, who transplanted first artificial heart; former President Gerald Ford; former Apollo 13 astronaut James Lovell; H. Ross Perot, the self-made billionaire and former presidential candidate; Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist Harrison Salisbury; and director Steven Spielberg.