Spotlight

Spotlight on…..ANDREW MARKING

After his family, Andrew Marking has two great passions: scouting and his Catholic faith.

Thus, when the Providence senior selected a public service project to qualify for scouting’s highest rank, it would naturally involve some aspect of the Church. Marking joined the other six Holy Family School graduates and student (in photo) who achieved their Eagle Scout status this past year.

The 18-year-old qualified for Eagle Scout in November 2010 completing an enormous endeavor, according to Friar Robert B. Baxter, OFM Conv. Director at Mount Saint Francis.

“Andrew has gone beyond a typical Eagle Scout project.  His project involved clearing away dead and fallen timber, evening out paths, building new Stations of the Cross, and building and placing a bench along part of the path.  The fruits of his labors have not gone unnoticed.  The valley of he Stations of the Cross is one of the most popular spots at the Mount.  Youth groups, grade school groups, area churches (both Catholic and Protestant) and individuals walk the Stations on a regular basis.  At least they did until the storms of several years ago damaged the entire area.  But the word is out that the area has been cleared and the Stations rebuilt.  And the people have come back.  Andmany many of them are vocal in offering thanks and praise for the fine job done in the valley.  And these folks know well how much work was involved.  They had seen the area before and after the storms and now they see it after Andrew’s hard work.

“On November 27 we held a ceremony rededicating the Stations.  A bronze marker along the first few yards of the trail reads: ‘The valley of the Stations of the Cross, severely damaged in the wind and ice storms of two years ago, was cleared and the stations rebuilt by Eagle Scout Andrew Marking.’”

To qualify for Eagle Scout, Marking had to earn more than a thirty merit badges and complete a public service project. He decided to fix the Stations of the Cross because he wanted to do something with his faith, along with something that he would be able to go back to years later and still be able to enjoy along with the community.

Once the objective was established, Marking raised over $2,000 through a letter writing campaign, and through donations from the Youth Philanthropy Council and Horseshoe Foundation.

He started in scouting as a member of Cub Scout Pack 36 at Holy Family Catholic Church and has continued for almost a decade.

Scouting offers good opportunities, he said. “there are many things that I would have never even been given the opportunity to do if it wasn’t for scouts, and I am extremely grateful for having that opportunity and being apart of one of the greatest organizations in America.”