GUILDERLAND — Troop 50 from St. Madeleine Sophie Parish held a Court of Honor on Wednesday, Sept. 24, to award the merit badges earned during the summer and at summer camp as well as award rank advancements.

This year, we had 19 Scouts attend summer camp at Camp Rotary outside of Poestenkill in Rensselaer County.  Together, they earned a total of 77 merit badges, which is quite impressive and we are very proud of our young men in the troop.

Our scouts had a wide variety of badges earned, including many that are required for the rank of Eagle Scout, which are marked with an asterisk.  We congratulate:

— Cameron Burdgick for Art, Camping*, Citizenship in the Community*, Communication*, Emergency Preparedness*, Environmental Science*, Fingerprinting, Personal  Fitness*, and Shotgun Shooting;

— Sean Butler for Environmental Science*, Fingerprinting, Fire Safety, and Mammal Study;

— Brian Chew for Canoeing, Emergency Preparedness*, First Aid*, and Weather;

— Connor Chew for Kayaking, Metalwork, Safety, and Wilderness Survival;

— Matt Cortelyou for Canoeing, Climbing, Cooking*, Family Life*, and Fish and Wildlife;

— Devin DiBianco for Art, Fingerprinting, and Mammal Study;

— Kyle Dikeman for Basketry, Fish and Wildlife, and Metalwork;

— Curtis Ericson for Indian Lore, Kayaking, Search and Rescue, and Traffic Safety;

— Robert Fitzpatrick for Art, Environmental Science*, Fingerprinting, and Mammal Study;

— Ryan Fox for Basketry, Fish and Wildlife, and Metalwork;

— Asa Guntert for Art, Environmental Science*, Fingerprinting, and Mammal Study;

— Matt Hesler for Emergency Preparedness*, Environmental Science*, Fingerprinting, Lifesaving*, and Metalwork;

— Nathan Labunski for Environmental Science*, Fingerprinting, Fire Safety, and Mammal Study;

— Shane O’Brien for Environmental Science*, Fingerprinting, Fire Safety, and Mammal Study;

— James Plummer for Environmental Science*, Fingerprinting, Fire Safety, and Mammal Study;

— Sean Rafferty for Environmental Study*, Fire Safety, and Mammal Study;

— Joe Reluzco for Climbing, and Environmental Science*;

— Jack Streeter for Fingerprinting, First Aid*, Leatherwork, and Shotgun Shooting; and

— Jason Streeter for Art, Camping*, Emergency Preparedness*, and First Aid*.

In addition to all these merit badges, we also had three Scouts earn rank advancements.  Cameron Burdgick is now a Life Scout, Matt Cortelyou is now a Life Scout, and Devin DiBianco has earned the Tenderfoot rank.

We congratulate all our Scouts for their hard work and dedication to the scouting program here at St. Madeleine Sophie.

Editor’s note: Same Dikeman is the scoutmaster of Troop 50, which serves youths from 11 years of age to 17. The troop meets Wednesdays when school is in session from 6:45 until 8 p.m. at the St Madeleine Sophie Parish Center on Carman Road. For information, contact Dikeman at 356-3901 or Assistant Scoutmaster Larry Vincent at 859-9633.