Eagle Scout follows, then leads

Michael Nicola didn’t have to look very far for inspiration in becoming an Eagle Scout. He followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Stephen, who was the first in the family to earn scouting’s highest honor.

Nicola, 18, of Seaford Boy Scout Troop 239, officially became an Eagle Scout at a Court of Honor ceremony on Feb. 6 at the Seaford firehouse. More than 100 people attended, including elected officials and other local dignitaries. “It felt pretty good that everyone was there to support me,” he said.

His scouting career has spanned 12 years. Nicola got his start with Cub Scout Pack 239. Once he crossed over to Boy Scouts, he immediately set Eagle Scout as a goal. By then, his brother, six years older, was well on his way to earning the rank, and Nicola also saw other boys in the troop doing the same.

“Everything that comes out of Eagle is so worth it,” Nicola said, adding that it was a lot of hard work but it paid off in the end.

All Scouts must complete a community serving project in order to earn the rank. Nicola helped beautify the Seaford Historical Museum on Waverly Avenue. He spruced up a garden in front of the building, and also did some electrical work to install lights in the back of the building, where there is a storage shed.

After six months of planning, Nicola and about 40 volunteers — including fellow Scouts, friends and family members — completed the work on Sept. 3, 2014. They replaced soil, planted flowers and did other landscaping work.

“I had this whole picture in my head,” Nicola said. “I think it came out better than I actually planned.”

Charles Wroblewski, who was president of the Seaford Historical Society at the time, said that it is important for the outside of the building to look nice, to create a hospitable and welcoming environment for museum visitors.

He said that Nicola did a fantastic job, not just in providing the Historical Society with beautified grounds, but in leading his volunteers to complete the task. “It showed his skills at organizing the project, at getting the materials and getting all the boys involved,” Wroblewski said.