As we commemorate the graduating class of 2025, we also take time to recognize the remarkable contributions of students involved in Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. These young leaders have dedicated themselves to community service, leadership, and personal growth throughout their years in Scouting—culminating in some of the highest honors these organizations offer.
This year, Kiera Duffy earned her Gold Award for Girl Scouts, and Stephen Cannizzo, Gregory Cannizzo, and Dominic Rolla achieved their Eagle Scout Rank. Their years of service and dedication is recognized by these prestigious awards.
Kiera Duffy has been a proud member of Girl Scouts since kindergarten. Over the years, she has embraced the values of service, skill-building, and leadership. Her journey reached a milestone with the completion of her Gold Award project, where she launched a campaign to promote safe driving among young drivers. Kiera’s initiative included a presentation at the Wyckoff Town Hall, the creation of an educational website, and informative flyers placed at the local library. The project took over 80 hours to complete and pushed her to grow beyond her comfort zone. Reflecting on her experience, Kiera shared, “I appreciate the opportunity that Girl Scouts gave me to make a difference in my community and the way it was able to push me out of my comfort zone.”
Not only does Kiera dedicate her time to giving back to the community, but this project would not be complete without her personal interest and dedication. One of her teachers from Ramapo, Ms. Schwarz went on to say, “Keira is the definition of joyful; She works independently with ease, always the first to tackle a long-term assignment, but she’s also always willing to offer up wisdom with grace.” Kiera worked hard to earn her Gold Award and stayed dedicated to making an impact in the community.
Gregory Cannizzo, involved in the Scouts organization for over eleven years, first got involved in first grade as a Cub Scout and bridged over to Boy Scouts in fifth grade, where he began focusing on his passion for community service. He earned the Eagle Scout rank with a project that focused on revitalizing the backyard flower beds of the historic Zabriskie House in Wyckoff. His project included digging and relining beds, adding mulch, and planting environmentally suitable flowers. The effort, which required more than a year of planning and four weekends of physical work, tested his endurance and leadership. “The process was demanding and required strong determination, but it significantly strengthened my leadership skills,” Gregory said. “It gave me valuable insight into what it takes to carry out a major service project.”
Stephen Cannizzo, also earned the Eagle Scout rank, contributing to the preservation of the Zabriskie House with a project that involved restoring an old stone wall near the garden. His team carefully dismantled the wall, cleaned each stone, and reconstructed it to be structurally sound, while also renovating the garden entrance. Stephen’s project took two years to complete and was the result of over a decade in Scouting. “This project truly challenged me to refine and apply the leadership skills I had developed throughout my Scouting experience,” he reflected. “It was a meaningful process that helped me grow both as a leader and as a person.” Stephen’s scouting journey has spanned over eleven years with his involvement starting as a Cub Scout in first grade and transitioning into a Boy Scout in fifth grade. Stephen has been a dedicated member of the Scouts organization, learning and demonstrating what good leadership, dedication, and giving back to the community truly look like.
As the Class of 2025 prepares to turn the page to their next chapter, the accomplishments of these dedicated Scouts remind us of the lasting impact of service, leadership, and commitment. Their projects have not only enriched the Wyckoff community but have also prepared them to become thoughtful, responsible citizens of the world.
