During the Council Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner for the Eagle Scout Class of 2011 there was not a person in the room who didn’t feel deeply moved by the class remarks of Donald Martocello. He shared his thoughts about the long and sometimes difficult journey to Eagle eloquently, analogizing the journey to leaving the nest and learning how to fly. He made sure to acknowledge and honor the parents, leaders and families in the room for guiding their scouts to their ultimate achievement. And now, the National Eagle Scout Association honors Donald by awarding him the 2014 NESA $50,000 STEM Scholarship. Donald, of Troop 601 in Moorestown, is a Palmyra High School graduate and plans to use that money to study and pursue his interest in molecular biology at Princeton.
In a NESA video interview of the 2014 NESA Award Winners Donald stated, “The best way I can thank the generous men and women who have awarded me the STEM scholarship is to make good on their investment. … I will make good on your investment by making the world a safer, greener and sustainable place that humans can use and enjoy.”
This award, given by the National Eagle Scout Association for the academic disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, is the largest scholarship available for every Boy Scout nationwide and is a tribute to both our schools and the scouting program. Here at the Garden State Council, we are both proud and impressed with Donald’s achievements and we wish him all the best in his studies at Princeton!
