Four scouts from Avon Boy Scout Troop 274 attain the rank of Eagle

On January 5, 2025, family, friends and fellow Scouts gathered to celebrate as William Nusom, Ketan Badrinath, Uttej Kollu and Daniel DaCunha were awarded the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout. The ceremony, held at the West Avon Congregational Church, marked the culmination of years of hard work, dedication and community service as members of Avon Troop 274.

During the ceremony, each of the Eagle Scouts delivered a speech reflecting on the values of leadership, service and perseverance learned during their time in scouting. They also shared their favorite moments from scouting which included hiking at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, sailing the Florida Keys and their high adventure trip to California.

Will joined Pack 122 as a Tiger Cub where he earned the Arrow of Light before crossing over to Troop 274. Will gained leadership experience through his role as Senior Patrol Leader of the troop. He also served as Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, and Chaplain Aide. In addition, he is a member of the Order of the Arrow, scouting’s National Honors Society. For his Eagle project, Will built a kiosk to display information about kettle holes, a rare geological formation. The structure is located at Winding Trails in Farmington and will provide hikers with information about their surrounding environment. Will is a senior at Avon High School where he runs Varsity Track and Cross Country, and is a Varsity captain of the Cross Country team. He is a member of the National Honor Society and the Sierra Club, Avon High School’s environmental club. Will volunteers at the US Horse Welfare and Rescue Organization where he cares for horses that have been rescued from abusive owners and kill lots. In addition, Will has spent the last three summers working at Winding Trails where he is a Senior Lifeguard and Water Safety Instructor. Upon graduation from high school, Will plans to study chemistry.

Ketan began his Scouting journey as a Tiger Scout in Pack 122 and earned his Arrow of Light in 5th grade with Pack 274. As an active member of Troop 274, he participated in community service and assumed leadership roles, including Den Chief, Troop Guide, Troop Scribe, and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. Since freshman year, Ketan has volunteered with Healing Meals, packaging nutrient-dense meals for families in need. For his Eagle Scout Project, he partnered with the organization to design and install an on-site composting system, converting food scraps into nutrient-rich compost for raised garden beds. He fundraised with local clubs and businesses. With the help of youth and adult volunteers, he installed a paver walkway and completed the enclosure. Additionally, he created educational materials, to include a blog and flyer, to teach volunteers about composting and its benefits. Ketan dedicates his project to his grandparents, “Ammamma” and “Badri Thatha,” whose support and inspiration motivated him to create a lasting impact in his community. Ketan has been involved in AHS Cross Country and Track and Field outside of scouting. Ketan served as Varsity captain of the Cross Country team and plays saxophone at the Hartt School Community Division. He plans to major in Neuroscience in college pursuing a pre-medicine track.

Uttej has been a proud member of Troop 274 since 7th grade, dedicating himself to the principles and values of Scouting. His consistent commitment and passion for service earned him election into the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s National Honor Society, which recognizes those who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. As a Scout leader, Uttej has held several positions of responsibility, including Webmaster and Patrol Leader, before stepping into the role of Senior Patrol Leader. In this leadership position, he guided the troop by planning weekly meetings, organizing activities, and fostering a sense of brotherhood. For his Eagle Scout project, Uttej designed and constructed two significant additions to the Wellner Trails of the Avon Land Trust: a 6’ x 3’ footbridge and a 52’’ x 3.5’’ x 42’’ kiosk. The footbridge improves safety by allowing hikers to traverse uneven terrain with ease, while the kiosk provides essential trail maps and information to enhance visitors’ experiences. Together, these additions make the trails more accessible and welcoming for the community. Uttej is currently a freshman at the University of Southern California majoring in Neuroscience.

Daniel started his journey as a Tiger Cub in Pack 122 in first grade. Throughout Daniel’s time in Scouting, he has held a plethora of leadership positions including Quartermaster, Crew Leader in Philmont and Senior Patrol Leader. Each of these opportunities held great value in Daniel’s journey through Scouting and developed him into the person he is today. For Daniel’s Project, he worked with Pine Grove Elementary School to construct a bridge and a table. The purpose of the bridge was to provide a way to access a nature loop that is located behind the school. As for the table, it was constructed in order to provide the students with an outdoor classroom to take a break from their regular class. Daniel is currently a senior at Avon High School where he has been active in the community partaking in various clubs such as robotics, Model UN, and the soccer team. He also challenges himself with many high-level classes including Honors and AP. During his senior year, Daniel has taken an internship at UCONN Health under the Immunology branch where he helps genotype rat DNA that might be linked to obesity. Daniel intends to sign up for Army ROTC and to pursue higher education for a Biomedical Engineering degree before he takes on medical school.

Eagle Scouts are represented among the most respected leaders in business, government and service. Scouts routinely log hundreds of hours of community service to achieve the rank and Scouting offers extensive opportunities to learn and practice leadership skills. The Eagle Badge identifies a person of significant accomplishment. More important, it represents the promise made by a Scout to uphold and promote the Scout Oath and Law for their lifetime.