For his Eagle Scout service project, Plandome Heights resident Toby Costello renovated the administrative offices at the after-school enrichment program Adventures in Learning and built a separate reading room for its most at-risk students.
“He’s not only created a beautiful space, but he’s given the kids a real role model,” said Diana Holden, the executive director of Adventures in Learning. “…They all look at him like he’s a rock star. They could not believe what he has done for them.”
Costello got the rock-star treatment again Sunday as he ascended to the Eagle Scout rank during a ceremony and brunch at the Port Washington Yacht Club.
He was the fourth scout from Troop 10 of Great Neck to achieve the rank this year, joining Michael Feijoo, David Guapisaca and Kevin Shea, who served as Costello’s mentor for the duration of his service project.
Costello was presented with the Eagle Scout badge and medal and took the Eagle Scout oath during the hour-plus-long ceremony, which featured various guest speakers and an explanation of the different Boy Scout ranks Costello had achieved over the years.
Costello’s Eagle Scout project included a floor-to-ceiling overhaul of the administrative office that included the replacement of windows and carpeting. He also created a glass partition for the reading room.
“One of my longtime friends and his siblings attended the after-school program and if it weren’t for the program, he might not have been able to do as well in high school and have the opportunity to attend the excellent college where he is today,” Costello wrote in a description of the project for the ceremony’s program.
Costello, who is currently enrolled in classes at Nassau Community College, also earned more than 20 merit badges in seeking the Eagle Scout rank.
The ceremony concluded with Costello’s mother Andrea pinning the Eagle Scout medal to his uniform and his father T.J. awarding him the Eagle Scout certificate, and Costello reciprocating by fixing Eagle pins to their lapels.
“We know, as you go forward, you will be a leader in your community, and as we look for the future leaders of our town, we know the future is in good hands with leaders like Toby,” said North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth (D-Great Neck), who alongside Town Clerk Wayne Wink (D-Roslyn) and Town Councilwoman Dina De Giorgio (R-Port Washington) presented Costello with a citation from the town.
Costello also received certificates from state Sen. Jack Martins (R-Mineola) Nassau County Legislator Ellen Birnbaum (D-Great Neck), the Manhasset-Lakeville Water and Fire District and from American Legion Post 304, which also presented him with the American Legion Good Citizenship medal.
Though state Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel (D-Great Neck) and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand were unable to attend the ceremony, Boy Scout representatives presented Costello with gifts on their behalf. From Schimel, Costello received a New York state flag, while Gillibrand gifted him an American flag which has flown over the U.S. Capitol.
Martins said he chatted with Costello briefly prior to the start of the ceremony and called him “a well-grounded young man who knows where he’s going in life…he gets it.”
