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Alec Newman
Troop 822 takes great pride in announcing the Troop’s first Eagle Scout, Wm. Alec Newman. Alec has been active in scouting for 10 years, starting when he became a Bobcat Scout at age seven. He completed the Cub Scout program earning the Arrow of Light, Cub Scouts highest achievement in 2009.
Alec and his fellow scout Martin Parra attended Boy Scout summer camp just 3 weeks after crossing over from their Cub Scout Pack. Neither of the boys had been away from home for a week without their families until that summer camp. Alec and Martin both had a great time other than the basketry merit badge class, but more about that later.
San Manuel at that time did not have a community Boy Scout troop and it wasn’t until October of 2009 that Troop 822 was formed with the Knights of Columbus Council #5542 as the Troop’s chartered organization. Alec would like to thank Bill Romero for not giving up and working with his fellow Knights to help get the Troop formed. Many others have supported the Scouts in San Manuel over the years: Larry Ramirez, Liz Garcia, Michelle Gonzales-Castro, Kyle and Cindy Sweeney, Grant and Denise Fisher, Tom Miller, Jane Newman, Doug and Joanie Rivard, Alex Gort, John and Claire Eckert, Cheryl Hexum, John Ryan, Bill Romero, Steven Davis and many others. Without all of the public and private support, Alec would not now be the newest Eagle Scout in San Manuel.
In addition to Boy Scouts, Alec is a varsity swimmer for the San Manuel Miners swim team, a member of the National Honor Society and a member of the Sea Lions the local swim club for the summer league. Alec is planning on attending college once he graduates from SMSUSD High School and pursuing a robotics engineering degree. He is also deeply interested in becoming a novelist and is currently working on a number of writing projects.
Alec is one of the founding members of Troop 822; on June 25, 2010 he achieved the scout ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class Scout and later that year in December he achieved the rank of Star Scout.
In February 2011 Alec was elected into Scouting Honor Society, the Order of the Arrow. In June of 2011 Alec completed the National Youth Leadership Training course and on July 19, 2011 he achieved the rank of Life Scout.
Alec was invited to join the NYLT staff in 2012, completing The Trainers EDGE course and all of the staff development training, however just before the 2012 course began Alec came down with pneumonia, being unable to staff the course, and he also became a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow.
In July of 2013 Alec attended the National Scout Jamboree held for the first time at the new national Scout high adventure camp, The Summit. In November of 2013 Alec submitted his Eagle Scout project proposal which was approved.
Alec has served the Troop as a Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader and Troop Guide. Alec has attended summer camp with the Troop every summer attending summer camp at Catalina Council’s Camp Lawton and Grand Canyon’s Camp Raymond in northern Arizona. Alec continues to work on his merit badges earning 57 merit badges to date.
Now seems like a good time to finish the story of the Basketry Merit Badge. The Merit Badge Instructor at Alec’s first summer camp provided incomplete instructions twice and Alec and Martin were unable to weave two baskets, thus not completing the merit badge. For many years Alec refused to weave the two baskets needed to complete the Merit Badge, until finally at summer camp in 2014 Alec wove the two baskets and finished the Merit Badge (much to the relief of his parents).
In November of 2014 Alec began his Eagle project, a solar water heating system for the community pool, completing it in December. On Jan. 15, 2015 Alec passed his Eagle board of review and has recently received final approval from National Scout Headquarters for the rank of Eagle Scout.
Alec has had a wonderful journey thus far and continues to participate in scouting in Troop 822 and Crew 822. He is currently working on completing his requirements for the National Medal for Outdoor Achievement, is attending the 100th anniversary celebration for the Order of the Arrow at the University of Michigan in August and is considering attending the 2017 National Scout Jamboree with the Crew contingent.
In talking with longtime residents of San Manuel who have been involved in the Scouting in San Manuel, it is has been 16 years since any young man last achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in San Manuel.
Congratulations to Alec on his achievement of Eagle Scout, the highest attainable rank in Boy Scouts of America’s Scouting program. The whole Tri-Community is proud of you!
Currently Michael Sanchez, Michael Garcia and Robert Sweeney are working to complete their Eagle Scout rank. If any of you know these young men please encourage them to complete their journey to Eagle.
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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