Matthew Palazzo has been in scouting since he was six years old. He participated in activities prior to that while his older brother was in Cub Scouts. Matthew joined scouting as a Tiger Cub in Pack 503, Merrill. He enjoyed all of the activities Cub Scouts had to offer including earning the Arrow of Light. He crossed over into Boy Scout Troop 599, Merrill, in 2013. Matthew has earned a total of 23 Merit Badges throughout the past five years, participated in Service Projects such as Scouting for Food, Highway Cleanup and Eagle Projects for many of his Troop Members. Matthew was inducted into the Order of the Arrow along with his Dad at Camp Tesomas in the summer of 2015. They both earned their Brotherhood at camp in 2016. Matthew has held several leadership positions in Troop 599 including Bugler, Troop Guide, Patrol Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. Matthew completed his Eagle Service Project in the summer of 2017, leading his fellow troop members, adult leaders and family members to build 10 benches for the Merrill Soccer Association.
Outside of Scouting, Matthew is involved with many different types of activities. He has been in soccer since he was five years old. He is currently a sophomore at Merrill High School and has been on the Honor Roll since 7th Grade. This semester Matt is taking a full load of courses including Honors Chemistry and band classes before and after school. He performed in “Beauty and the Beast” last spring and looks forward to more acting opportunities in the next few years. Matt has been a member of the Hip Hop Class at Dorinda’s Dance Studio since 2011. This past summer they travelled to New York City where he and his studio performed on a Broadway Stage and in Times Square. He has been in concert band since 6th grade and added Marching Band and Jazz Band in High School. This fall he added a choir class.
Matt is also anxious to participate in anything that will help improve his community or school. He has been in Safety Patrol, Student Council and Teen Court. Teen Court was a program that helped teens in trouble with the law stay out of the official court system. They were tried and sentenced by a panel of their peers. Matthew also volunteers in many positions at Trinity Lutheran Church. This past summer, at the age of 15, he started a job at Kind Hearted Home Care, providing care for special needs members of the community. He finds this job extremely rewarding and looks forward to a future career in the physical therapy industry.
Matthew was awarded the Eagle Scout Rank on Sept. 18, 2018. Scouting has played an important role in his success and he will continue to live up to the standards expected of an Eagle Scout. He is the son of Dennis and Kathy Palazzo, Merrill.