Local Students Earn Eagle Scout Ranking

Earlier this month, Troop 1 of Los Padres Council held an Eagle Court of Honor to officially recognize six local high school students who have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. A.J. Heinemann, Peter Moschitto, Davis Peterson, Rowen Manriquez, and Matthew Fernandes were joined by Kedrick Condie, who began his scouting career with Troop 1 but completed it with Troop 194 in Colorado.

To achieve Eagle, each Scout must complete a minimum of 21 merit badges, perform community service, serve as a leader in the troop and complete a project that benefits an outside organization, all before his or her 18th birthday. Required merit badges such as First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Cooking, Camping, and Personal Management are designed to build character, life skills, and leadership skills. Some of the most popular merit badges include Communications, Kayaking, Wilderness Survival, and Photography. 

Eagle Scouts must plan, fundraise, and execute their Eagle Project while demonstrating leadership skills and involving younger troop members. Heinemann, Fernandes, and Manriquez’s projects brought improvements to the Lake Cachuma Recreation Area. Heinemann planted and installed irrigation for new oak trees. Fernandes created and installed a new Wildlife Lake Tours sign. Manriquez constructed and installed an information kiosk at the Sweetwater Trailhead near Bradbury Dam. Moschitto constructed a sandbox and archway for the preschool of the Cliff Drive Care Center. Peterson built and installed seven benches for Providence School’s elementary campus. Condie designed and installed a billboard for the Western Museum of Mining and Industry in Colorado Springs. 

The following local businesses and individuals generously donated goods and funds to enable these Scouts to complete their Eagle projects: Aqua-Flo, Haywards, Home Improvement Center, Santa Barbara Stone, Allen Construction, Miners Ace Hardware, Carpinteria Lumber Co. Carpinteria Roofing, and Mr. Martin and Mrs. Danielle Osborn.

These six Scouts were honored in a Court of Honor Ceremony at Santa Barbara Community Church on April 9. The ceremony was officiated by Troop 1 Scoutmaster Robert Blessing and attended by family and friends of the Scouts, Troop 1 Adult Leaders, and Troop 1 former Eagle Scouts. Associate Pastor Alan Strout of the First United Methodist Church offered a prayer of thanksgiving and benediction. Special presentations were made and certificates were awarded to the Eagle Scouts by Joe Bauer of the Catholic Committee on Scouting, Major Jose Ramirez of the Military Order of World Wars who awarded each Eagle Scout with a Certificate, and Command Sergeant Jonathan Church, who presented a Certificate to each Eagle Scout on behalf of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Organization. The ceremony was followed by a dinner reception.

Troop 1 was founded in 1910 and is the oldest Scout Troop west of the Mississippi River. It is chartered by the First United Methodist Church in Santa Barbara. These six new Eagle Scouts represent the 93rd-98th Scouts to be awarded the rank of Eagle in Troop 1. For more information about Scouting or Troop 1, please contact Scoutmaster Robert Blessing at troop1sb@gmail.com or troop1sb.com.