Ryan Di Lella of BSA Troop 300 completed his Eagle Scout project to help St. Veronica Parish, Howell, and restore its outside grounds. His project refurbished the rectory garden and surrounding areas.
Ryan participates in many events St. Veronica’s, is a student at Howell High School, a member of the National Honor Society, and a percussionist in the Howell High School Marching Rebels, the local marching band.
Honor of Eagle Scout
Ryan’s years of hard work as a Scout resulted in his earning the rank of Eagle Scout Dec. 18. Some of his family members are also Eagle Scouts, so he said earning this title has allowed him to follow in the footsteps of his family and grow in his relationships with them.
“I became an Eagle Scout in order to become closer to my family members that are also Eagle Scouts,” Ryan said.
To Ryan, becoming an Eagle Scout has been a major accomplishment and a testament to what he can achieve with outstanding effort and determination through the years. “It’s a great honor to be an Eagle Scout, to have gotten this far in my Boy Scout career,” he said.
A project of giving back
“My Catholic faith was a big part of choosing the project and also gave me the motivation to actually complete the project,” Ryan said.
He said he wanted to give back to St. Veronica’s: “It was a way of giving back what the church has given me for the last 17 years.”
With the assistance of his fellow troop members and family, he began his project by organizing a bake sale to support his and his troop’s work. His project lasted about three months, from picking the topic to finishing the on-site work during October and November.
To refurbish the outside of St. Veronica Parish, Ryan and his troop planted bushes and 300 bulbs, trimmed a tree, cleaned and repaired the statues, and built two AC screens for the units in front of the Parish Center and rectory.
“I learned the difference between different plants, perennials, bulbs, and annuals,” Ryan said. “I also learned about woodworking from my father.”
Despite moments of difficulty during his project, he never gave up.
Donning his Scouting uniform, Ryan Di Lella enjoys a celebration recognizing his completion of an Eagle Scout project. Courtesy photo
“As a student with autism, I sometimes have a hard time communicating with other people, and that was why it was a challenge for me to complete this project,” he said. “It’s important for people to understand that people with autism can sometimes do things great!”
Ryan said he is looking forward to seeing the bulbs bloom this spring and is excited for them to come back each year.
Lasting impact
Father Peter James Alindogan, pastor of St. Veronica Parish, said Ryan’s project “enhanced the landscaping of the campus: Not only are the AC screens safeguarding the units from the elements, but they also enhance the parish area and environment.”
He said the project emphasized the importance of taking care of God’s creation and the livelihood of His place of prayer and worship.
“Ryan’s project contributes largely to the future of the parish, with special attention to ecology and the environment, while making sure that the religious statues in the campus are not neglected,” Father Alindogan added.