Griffin Evans

For 18-year-old Griffin Evans, family traditions are important. A freshman entering his second semester at Western Connecticut State University, Evans pretty much knew he’d attend Western after graduating from Bethel High School in 2023, since both of his parents are alumni and it’s considered “the family school.” Even though he considered some other options, Evans decided to attend his parents’ alma mater because “it was close to home, I could commute, and it offered a degree in Meteorology,” he said. “It was a good fit.”

Another tradition in Evans’ family has been involvement in the Boy Scouts. Since childhood, Evans had watched his older brother, Rhys, progress through the ranks as a Scout, ultimately achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. So, it was only natural that he would aspire to the same achievement, which he completed in November 2023.

“I’ve been involved in Scouting for most of my life,” Evans said. “My brother joined when he was in first grade, and I followed him into Cub Scouts and then Boy Scouts.”

A requirement for becoming an Eagle Scout is the completion of a community service project and Evans’ Eagle Project was to construct a suitable container for the retirement of American flags at Bethel American Legion Post 100. “We had always been involved in the flags going up in the cemetery for Memorial Day,” Evans explained, “and I observed that the container for retired flags needed to be bigger and a more respectable place for flags to be retired.” Evans led a team of his fellow Scouts in creating and installing his project. He will receive his Court of Honor in the future when his troopmate who also achieved Eagle Scout returns home from college out of state.

Evans explained that there are 18 or 19 badges relating to citizenship, life skills and more that are also required to reach Eagle Scout. He said he has accumulated almost twice that number. “It really helps because it teaches all of the life skills that you’re going to need in the future to be a better person,” he said. “And the discipline and time management skills will help with college and life going forward.”

Having aged out of Scouting, Evans now is focused on what lies ahead. He said he’s “easing into the college experience” and is enjoying it much more than high school. “In college, you have more freedom,” he explained. “In high school, it feels like you are just taking filler classes to meet requirements. At Western, I’m taking courses in Meteorology and studying what I’m working toward: my future.” He aspires to a future working at someplace like the National Weather Service, compiling data and creating weather forecasts. “I’m good at math, physics and logic, and I’ve always had a fascination with weather,” he said. “It just makes sense.”

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