September 18, 2024
Marion County Boy Scout Gabe Maldonado Earns Eagle Scout Rank, Honored by Commission
By Kyle Coppola
Marion County Boy Scout Gabe Maldonado Earns Eagle Scout Rank, Honored by Commission
MARION COUNTY, Fla. — Gabe Maldonado, a member of Boy Scout Troop 172, was recognized at the Marion County Commission meeting on Tuesday for achieving the esteemed rank of Eagle Scout. This honor, which only a small percentage of Scouts attain, is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America and requires completing a significant community service project.
For his Eagle Scout project, Gabe focused on enhancing the facilities of Voice of Change Animal League (VOCAL), a local animal rescue organization. He revitalized VOCAL’s storage facilities, constructed a new donation box, and improved the environment for the rescue cats, creating a more comfortable and welcoming space.
Gabe’s dedication and leadership have earned him recognition not only from his troop but also from the broader community. His project exemplifies the spirit of service that is highly valued in Marion County.
“Young men like Gabe make Marion County a special place,” said a commissioner during the meeting, expressing gratitude for Gabe’s commitment to bettering the community.
Maldonado’s achievement highlights the impact of youth who strive to make a difference through service and leadership.
Photos & Info Credit – Marion County, Florida
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
