Chernisky's Eagle Scout project assists theater department

• Andrew Chernisky

The Hastings Theater Department has some new equipment thanks to Andrew Chernisky (shown here in the Hastings Middle School stage area) and his Eagle Scout project.

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Hastings High School senior Andrew Chernisky has performed on school stages as a member of the choirs.

As a member of Boy Scout Troop 503 under Scoutmaster Shawn Moynihan, he is now helping to improve the stage area at Hastings Middle School. For his Eagle School award project, Chernisky led a group of fellow troop members and several adults in building stage flats, which are used in the high school and middle school productions, helped to organize the stage and prop workshop area, and sanded and prepped the stage floor at the middle school auditorium for painting.

Chernisky has been in Boy Scouting since he was in first grade – almost 12 years.

“I like the camping and working with my friends,” he said. “Sometimes with an activity or project, you are afraid to begin; with friends, they are there to offer support and it is fun”

Each Eagle Scout candidate must earn 21 merit badges and successfully complete a community, church or synagogue-related service project to earn his Eagle rank. Chernisky has not only completed the required number of badges, but 10 additional ones.

Hastings Middle School principal, (and Eagle Scout) Mark Zuzek had offered the stage work as a possible Eagle project to Chernisky earlier this year. The school wanted the project completed before fall and the start of the 2009-10 theater productions.

Working closely with theater department manager Anne Blessing, Chernisky planned, documented, organized a work crew, and followed through on the project. The two weekends of June 20 and 27, Chernisky, 16 troop members, and his parents built and painted 10 standing flats, two doors and two windows. While the stage floor was also sanded, the painting by Blessing will wait until after the stage curtains and lights are replaced later this summer.

Chernisky enjoyed the project – he estimated the total project took 291 hours – and is pleased with the end results.

“We wanted to make sure they (the flats) were all perfect,” he said. “I like to be in charge. It's about giving back, too, as I have been here in this auditorium.”

Blessing is appreciative of the efforts of Chernisky and his workers.

'This project would have been done by myself, and to have someone with the resources (people and time) was great,” she said. “To have people motivated to do it was great, and these Scouts are marvelous.”

Plus, the prep work for the floor painting is completed.

The funding for the project was from a school grant.

In his troop, chartered through Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Chernisky has served as chaplain aide, librarian, patrol leader and currently, Order of the Arrow representative. He has also earned his Arrow of Light, Cub Scouting’s highest honor, and his religious emblem of faith.

Chernisky is one of about 4 percent of all Boy Scouts in the country who attain the Eagle Scout rank. He is a member of the United Methodist Church and is active in the Riverside Company show choir at the high school. He also works at Creative Confectionaire.

He is the son of John and Kathleen Chernisky.

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