LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Troop 237 Eagle Scouts


left to right: Kyle Weikert, John Palmer, Kevin Yee, Kelly McGonigle Photo provided

Boy Scouts of America Troop 237 is pleased to announce that four new Eagle Scouts have joined the Troop's Eagle family. Kelly McGonigle, John Palmer, Kyle Weikert and Kevin Yee, who are Orinda residents and juniors at Miramonte High School, were honored at BSA Troop 237's Eagle Court of Honor on Sunday January 9, 2011. Scoutmaster Eric Jorgensen presented the Eagle awards, the highest rank in Scouting. Their Eagle projects are described below:

Kelly Joseph McGonigle conducted a backpack drive to benefit the Global Health Access Program based in Berkeley. Over 175 used backpacks were collected, cleaned and repaired for delivery to the Mae Sot Medical Clinic, on the Thailand/Burma border.

John Kingsland Palmer dismantled and rebuilt two baseball backstops at Del Rey Elementary School in Orinda, benefiting both Del Rey School and the Orinda Baseball Association.

Kyle Robert Weikert designed, built and installed a large redwood shade arbor at Sleepy Hollow Elementary School in Orinda and dedicated it to a long-time teacher there, Kay Aaker. Kyle also re-graded the area underneath the arbor and installed a moss rock-lined pathway.

Kevin Mark Yee designed and built a table and bench benefiting the City of Orinda and the Christian Science Church. The project involved cutting, sanding and staining the redwood supports set in cement and transporting the 400-lb moss rock slab tabletop.

Boy Scouts of America Troop 237, chartered by the Orinda Community Church, has been serving the Orinda community for over 58 years and has recognized 180 Eagle Scouts over its history. Each Eagle candidate must earn a minimum of 21 merit badges, including 12 Eagle-required badges. They must also demonstrate leadership, outdoor skills, Scout spirit plus successfully complete a service project with a minimum of 100 volunteer hours to earn the Eagle award.