Ryley Paquette, NNED’s First National ROTY: An Interview
By Jay M. Woodward
Pony Express Editor
Ryley Paquette of Outpost #11 has accomplished many extraordinary things during his years in Royal Rangers. He has earned his Gold Medal of Achievement, seven Gold Buffalo awards, the prestigious Saber, has taken part in Pathfinder Missions trips alongside his father, Commander Bruce “Moose Call” Paquette, and has become a great young leader, as a Junior Commander, Security Color Guard member, and as the Northern New England District FCF Scout. He has very much been an inspiration to many boys and leaders in the Rangers ministry!
On January 3rd, in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania, Ryley made history by becoming the first young man ever from NNED to become a National Ranger of the Year! This marks another amazing accomplishment in Ryley’s storied Ranger career! Ryley talked about his historic achievement in an interview with The Pony Express:
JW: So, how does it feel being NNED’s first-ever National ROTY?
RP: It is both a surprise and an honor. I was ecstatic when I found out that I won, and the fact that I was the first NROTY of Northern New England only made it even more incredible.
JW: Anyone who has taken part in ROTY knows it took a lot for you to get here. What kinds of things did you do to be ready, and who helped to encourage you along the way?
RP: Well I spent almost all of my Christmas Break studying, and much, much more time besides that. Commander Love had Nathan MacGilvray (who competed in the Adventure Ranger category) over his house to work on our speeches. My mother was key in helping me study and encouraging me to press on, and my father and Commander Love were key as well. Incidentally, the old National Ranger of the Year and I became friends through the testing in previous years, and he also encouraged me to hang on and study.
JW: How did it feel when you were testing, and how was it like being in the room with the other Regional ROTYs?
RP: Testing was actually not very stressful (with the exception of the speech), and most of the ROTY's are all friends anyway (since we have been testing for so long together) so we are pretty calm on the outside and joke a lot together...
JW: You have your GMA, 7th Gold Buffalo, and now National ROTY. What's next for you in your Ranger career, and in your life?
RP: Well, I am going to try to go for my Wilderness rating in FCF, and maybe get some more Gold Buffalo's along the way. Since I am a junior this year, college looms ahead and I now must prepare for application season next fall as well as take the SAT's. Other than that, I plan on surviving High School!
As you can see, Ryley has lots to still accomplish in Rangers, and in life. NNED Royal Rangers congratulates Ryley Paquette on becoming the District’s first National Ranger of the Year, and we look forward to his future achievements. The best is still yet to come!
