LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Troop 204 presents 2019 Eagle Scouts


From left, sitting: Jared Steuber, Nathan Sherman, Kevin Mlynek, Oliver Rotundo, William Condy, Matthew Montaquila; standing: Ryan Owens, Andrew Tso, Dominik Figone, Luke Vandenberghe, Thomas Judson, and Reid Fellner. Photo provided

Lafayette Boy Scout Troop 204 will honor 12 young men who have achieved the Eagle Scout Rank, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America, on March 23 at 1 p.m. at Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive. This will be Troop 204's 66th Eagle Court of Honor.

To attain Eagle Scout, candidates must earn their way up the scouting ranks from Tenderfoot to Life Scout. Life Scouts must be active in the Troop for at least six months, earn at least 21 required merit badges, serve in a leadership position, show Scout spirit, and plan, develop and give leadership to others in an approved Eagle Service Project. In the addition to the requirements listed above, each of the Troop 204 Eagle Scouts has attended the annual 50-mile backpacking trips, including planning and leading a trek on a nine-day trip. They have hiked over 500 miles, and actively participated in annual Camporees.

William Condy constructed planter boxes for the garden at Burton Valley Elementary. Reid Fellner completed a beautification project at Acalanes High School consisting of landscaping planter boxes and planting new trees and shrubs. Dominik Figone constructed Wood Duck nesting boxes and installed them at the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge. Thomas Judson upgraded and improved the Third Grade Garden at Happy Valley Elementary School. Kevin Mlynek restored a trail, planted new bushes and built a retaining wall at Springhill Elementary School Garden. Matthew Montaquila made blankets for injured or sick children at Children's Hospital in Oakland and Walnut Creek. Ryan Owens built planter box cages at Springhill Elementary School Garden to protect fruits and vegetables from being eaten by animals. Oliver Rotundo constructed a drainage trench that diverts the flow of water to avoid flooding while creating a small-scale vernal pool to be studied by Springhill Elementary students. Nathan Sherman constructed PVC soccer goals for Trust in Education, to be sent to children in Afghanistan. Jared Steuber and his fellow Scouts trained homeless families in basic first aid and gave them first aid kits at Shelter Inc. in Martinez. Andrew Tso repainted faded safety lines for 24 classroom doors/areas at Lafayette Elementary School as well as planted shrubs in a bare section of the quad. Luke Vandenberghe built benches at Las Trampas pool in Lafayette where his family has swum for over 16 years.