Troop 3 BSA’s recent Eagle Scouts, from left, Steven Tracz, Dominic Livoti, and Matthew Moran, with Derby Mayor Anita Dugatto. / Contributed photo
DERBY – Steven Tracz, Matthew Moran, and Dominic Livoti, Housatonic Council BSA Troop 3 Derby’s 297th, 298th,and 299th Eagle Scouts respectively, were recently recognized during a Court of Honor ceremony held at the Troop’s sponsor, Derby Second Congregational Church.
Eagle Scout Ryan Cafaro of Ansonia served as master of ceremonies and the invocation was given by the Rev. Larry Crasilli, of the Second Congregational Church.
Mayor Anita Dugatto presented citations and gifts on behalf of the City of Derby and Scout Executive Kevin Bishop provided congratulations on behalf of Housatonic Council BSA. Also presenting a proclamation were state Reps. Linda Gentile, D-Ansonia, and Themis Klarides, R-Derby.
Letters of congratulations were received from Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, President Barack Obama, and U.S. Sen. Christopher Murphy.
Steven Tracz, 18, is the son of Mike and Cindy Tracz of Derby. He has an older sister, Hollie and older brother Mike Jr., Troop 3 Eagle Scout #274.
Steven is a recent graduate of Notre Dame High School in West Haven, where he participated in cross country, football, and indoor and outdoor track, was a member of Team ND and the outdoorsman club. Steven is a member of the Paugassett Hook and Ladder Fire Company in Derby and an Emergency Medical Responder with the Storm Ambulance Corps.
As a member of Troop 3, Steven attended the 2011 West Coast trip, 2012 trip to the Florida Sea Base, National Scout Jamborees in 2010 and 2013, and was selected to represent Troop 3 as an exchange Scout to Ireland in 2012. Steven has been and Endman in the Scout Gang Show for four years. He has worked on the aquatics staff at the Strang Scout Reservation and is working there currently. He has earned a total of 40 merit badges.
Beautified area of cemetery in Derby
For his Eagle project, Steven and his fellow Scouts beautified an area of St. Michael’s Cemetery on Silver Hill Road in Derby, which included grinding away seven stumps, laying down asphalt curbing, cutting down a tree, building two planters and putting up a new sign.
Steven will attend Anna Maria College in Paxton, Mass. in the fall and will be majoring in Paramedicine. After college he plans to follow in his cousin's footsteps and become a U.S. Navy SEAL.
Matthew C. Moran, 18, is the son of Albert and Debra Moran and the brother of John Moran. Matthew was a Tiger Cub in Pack 109 in Naugatuck before moving to Pack 3 Derby. Matthew advanced through the program earning the Arrow of Light Award before joining Boy Scout Troop 3 in 2008.
Upon joining Troop 3, Matthew became a part of the Ghost Rider Patrol serving as Grubmaster, Scribe, Quartermaster, and Assistant Patrol Leader before becoming Patrol Leader, where he led the Ghost Riders to win both the Housatonic Council BSA Fall Camporee and the Klondike Derby.
Matthew served Troop 3 as Senior Patrol Leader and then as a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. He currently is an Assistant Scoutmaster. Matthew is the Activities Director of Venture Crew 77 Ansonia and a choir director of the annual Scout Gang Show for the past 5 years. He has earned a total of 30 merit badges.
Matt is a third generation Troop 3 Scout, along with his dad, Al, and grandfather, John Moran.
In addition to attending many weeks of summer camp at Edmund D. Strang Scout Reservation, Matthew has participated in Troop 3 activities such as trips to Boston and New York City. Matthew attended the 2010 Scout Jamboree in Virginia to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Scouting. In 2011, Matthew participated in Troop 3’s Pacific Coast Adventure.
In 2014, Matthew was selected to represent Troop 3 as an exchange Scout to Limerick, Ireland with fellow Eagle Scout Justin Patten. This summer Matt will serve as a leader on Troop 3 and Crew 33’s trip to Derby, England.
Matthew is a recent graduate of Seymour High School where he was a member of choir, performing arts club, cooking club, CISP, and was President of their chapter of Tri-M music honor society. He attends St. Mary’s Church and teaches third grade religious education classes. Matt works at St. Joseph’s Center in Trumbull as a receptionist.
Installed outdoor classroom at school
Matt’s Eagle Scout project benefited St. Mary-St. Michael School in Derby, of which he is an alumnus. His team of volunteers installed a new sign and an outdoor classroom with four benches that converts into picnic tables.
The classroom will provide the students with the opportunity to learn in a different environment.
Matthew will attend Southern Connecticut State University, majoring in Elementary Education and Administration.
Dominic Cristopher Livoti, 18, resides in Orange with his parents Mary and Dominic Livoti and two older sisters, Olivia and Sara.
Dominic is a graduate of Amity Regional High School where he was a member of the rugby club and football team. He is a member of St. Mary’s Church.
Dominic joined Cub Scout Pack 3 Derby in 2003, earning the Arrow of Light award. As a member of Troop 3 and Crew 33, he has earned a total of 60 merit badges, including nuclear science and climbing. Also, at Edmund D. Strang Scout Reservation he earned the mile swim award as well as the kayaking BSA award.
As a member of the Housatonic Council contingent, Dominic attended the 2010 National Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia and the 2013 National Scout Jamboree at Bechtel Summit, West Virginia. Dominic also participated in the 2011 West Coast Adventure Trip, New Hampshire skiing trips, Salem, Mass. Halloween trips, and numerous top 10 Scout trips, as a member of Troop 3 and Crew 33. Dominic has served Scouting as a patrol scribe, patrol quartermaster, patrol leader, troop quartermaster, crew quartermaster and crew president. He has also been an end man and participant in many Scout Gang Shows.
Collected children's books, constructed displays
Dominic’s Eagle Scout community service project involved collecting children’s books and constructing book displays that were placed in the Ansonia YMCA, Adult Education Center in Shelton, Shelton Community Center and both Ansonia and Shelton Boys and Girls Clubs of the Lower Naugatuck Valley. With the help of the Shelton Readiness Council these book displays allow children access to free books to bring home and keep.
Dominic will attend Eastern Connecticut State University, majoring in Environmental Science with plans of becoming a National Parks Ranger.
“Housatonic Council BSA and Troop 3 Derby are extremely proud of the efforts of Steven, Matthew, and Dominic. Through Scouting they have learned the importance of giving back to the community and becoming good citizens, and we have every confidence Scouting has helped prepare them to be successful in the future," Troop 3 Scoutmaster Randy Ritter said. Ritter coordinated the court of honor program.
Troop 3 was founded in 1914, and continues to be sponsored by the Derby Second Congregational Church, where it will resume meeting each Wednesday at 7 p.m. beginning Sept. 10.
For more information on joining Scouting, call 203-732-0343
This is a press release from Scoutmaster Randy Ritter.
