Scouts
Darius Bopp, Troop 16, Moraine Trails Council, received his Eagle Scout Nov. 20 after earning 48 merit badges. He also received his first Bronze Palm, is a member of the Order of the Arrow and completed leadership training.
He held the positions of scribe, assistant patrol leader, patrol leader and senior patrol leader during his Boy Scout career.
His Eagle Scout project consisted of repairing and painting a large 30-by-50-foot meeting room, including 18 windows and ceilings, in one of the buildings at Preston Park for Butler Township.
Darius is a 10th-grader at Butler Intermediate High School in the gifted program. He is a saxophonist for the Tornado Marching Band and the Tornado Big Band and is the pianist for Strolling Strings.
He is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Butler.
Darius is the son of Paul and Connie Bopp of Butler.
Leanna Longobardi, daughter of Louis and Sheryl Longobardi of Cranberry Township, recently earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest recognition for achievement in Girl Scouting.Leanna is a senior at Seneca Valley High School and also serves in a leadership position as senior class senator.Leanna, who has been a Girl Scout for 13 years, is an Ambassador Scout of Troop 20774. She has been supported in her Gold Award efforts by her butterfly garden project mentor Joan Kimmel of “The Urban Gardener,” in Pittsburgh, and troop leader and assistant leaders Jean Wilkinson, Sheryl Longobardi and Sue Weber.Her Gold Award project was the creation of a butterfly garden, about 450 square feet in size, at the Shenango recreation area overlooking the lake in Mercer County.The project focused on the importance of a healthy environment and the role butterflies play within that environment. Her project involved the researching and planning of the plants necessary for attracting butterflies and included the construction of butterfly boxes to provide proper habitat to ensure their continued existence.In addition, Leanna designed a brochure to be handed out to garden visitors. It tells how identify the plants in the garden as well as their purpose within the butterfly community.An existing wooden bench was also refurbished.———
Brad Carlin, 16, earned the Boy Scouts' highest rank of Eagle Scout Sept. 25 at his Board of Review with Moraine Trails Council in Butler. He is a member of Troop 399, chartered by St. Matthias Church in Evans City.To obtain the Eagle Scout rank, Brad demonstrated his leadership ability by raising funds and guiding 27 volunteers from Troop 399 and the community to build a fire pit, benches and a food preparation table at EDCO Park in Evans City.His goal was to help the Evans City community by providing a place to gather, have celebrations and enjoy the outdoors. The project took 140 hours of planning and work.Brad's Scouting career began as a Tiger in 2003. He received his Parvuli Dei religion knot in 2008. He progressed in rank to receive his Arrow of Light award as a Webelo in 2008 when he crossed over to become a Boy Scout.Brad has earned 39 merit badges, has volunteered more than 100 hours of community service, has attended 74 camping trips and has hiked 42 miles with his troop.He has served his troop as a librarian, historian, instructor, guide, quartermaster, patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader and senior patrol leader. He recently completed his Honor Oak Leaf and National Youth Leadership Certificate from Camp Bucoco.Brad is a junior in the Seneca Valley School District.