Jim Thorpe Scout earns Eagle rank
Gabriel Jusino is pictured with his mother, Denise Rachumi, and his grandparents Jauna and Luis Rachumi. Jusino gave his mentor’s pin to his mother for all the support and encouragement she has given him in life and in Scouting. JUDY DOLGOS-KRAMER/TIMES NEWS
On Jan. 10 Troop 555 celebrated a new Eagle Scout in Jim Thorpe. Gabriel Enrique Jusino became another in a long list of highly accomplished young men to reach the lofty peak of Scouting.
For his Eagle Scout project, Jusino choose to work on improving the landscaping and signage at Jim Thorpe Area High School sports field. The project included building up the area in front of the track and adding a sign that gives a brief summary of the town of Jim Thorpe.
Jusino added blooming plants that will bloom red, white and blue, which are the high school’s colors.
The project took Jusino and his volunteers 122 hours. He raised more than $600 to pay for supplies.
Jusino thanked his sponsors and contributors for their generous assistance. Jim Thorpe Area High School Principal Thomas Lesisko, Selig Center, Structural Metal Fabricators, Mike Hutta and the Jeff Farnell family were among those singled out, as well as his former troop leader Ray Attewell and his friends at Troop 555.
He also thanked his mother, Denise Rachumi, and presented her with his mentor’s pin. Additionally he added his appreciation to several others for their help.
“To Vince Rodgers and Walt Bevilacqua, who donated their time and talents to help me through the ‘hands on’ part of the project. Thank you, Carol Teets, Dave Miller and Margaret Miller, for your time and generosity,” he said. “A special thank you to my mother, who constantly encouraged and motivated me to continue with my project, stood by my side the whole way, and for that I’m grateful.
“I want to give a special thanks to a dear friend who unfortunately passed away last year, Ethel Carmen. She was like a second mother who cared for me and kept inspiring me to keep going. She encouraged my project greatly and is one of the reasons why I have become an Eagle Scout. I can only wish that she can see how much of an influence she had on me.”
Eagle Scout Logan Farnell served as master of ceremonies. Guest speakers included Lesisko, state Rep. Doyle Heffley, and Carbon County Commissioners Thomas Gerhard and Wayne Nothstein.
Jusino is a freshman at Rochester Institute of Technology, where he is majoring in computer engineering. Troop 555 is sponsored by Christ Lutheran Church in Jim Thorpe.
