From left, back row: Max Lamb, Westin Mirner, Andrew Ahr, Austin deBack, Gabriel Samaniego, Pierce Naton; Front row: Bradley Green, Marcus van Duren, Christopher O'Keefe, Jacob Jernigan, Trent McCormick, Andrew Megowan. Photo Jeff Toten

On March 19, 2011, at the Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church, Lafayette Boy Scout Troop 204 will honor 12 young men who achieved the Eagle Scout award, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America. Troop 204 has awarded this special honor to 330 scouts since 1935

To attain the rank of Eagle Scout, a scout must earn his way up the scouting ranks - from Tenderfoot to Life Scout. As a Life Scout, he must be active in the troop for at least six months, earn at least 21 merit badges, serve as a Patrol Leader, show scout spirit. As a final step they must plan, develop and give leadership to others in an approved Eagle service project that is helpful to any religious institution, school, or community.

In addition to requirements listed above, each scout has attended the annual 50 mile backpacking trips, hiked over 500 miles, actively participated in annual Camporees, constructed and slept in snow caves and camped in the wilderness for over 100 nights.

The new Eagles and their projects are:

Andrew Ahr (Campolindo) - Painted a large classroom and conference room in the children's ministry at Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church to create an inviting atmosphere.

Austin deBack (Acalanes) - Fund raising, design, and leadership of groups during the construction of five (5) tables for the teachers of Lafayette Elementary School.

Bradley Green (Acalanes) - Created and coordinated the "Power of Youth" book drive, amongst Lafayette students to raise awareness of the new Lafayette Library and Learning Center.

Jacob Jernigan (Acalanes) - Refurbished a large wooden playground structure, painted exterior doors, and refurbished and painted exterior railings for Shelter, Inc.

Max Lamb (Campolindo) - Planted a garden of native California plants to attract native bees and installed an informational sign as an educational tool at the Garden Classroom at Burton Valley Elementary School in Lafayette.

Trent Joseph McCormick (Campolindo) - Constructed a six foot tall by 90 foot long deer proof fence around a vegetable garden and built an adjoining path to the vegetable garden at Las Trampas.

Andrew Megowan (Acalanes) - Collected a variety of materials for use in the assembly of a number of tactile boards for visually impaired children in the Rehabilitation Center at Children's Hospital in Oakland.

Westin Mirner (Acalanes) - Conducted a month long sweat pant drive in the Lafayette community for the Tom Waddell Health Clinic in San Francisco that benefitted approximately 300 ill, homeless individuals.

Pierce Naton (Campolindo) - Installed an irrigation system in the new Campolindo Biology garden.

Christopher O'Keefe (Acalanes) - Created a learning center for homeless children at Shelter's Inc.

Gabriel Romero Samaniego (Camplindo) - Collected tattered US flags for proper retirement at schools, public and private businesses throughout Lamorinda; organized and put on a flag retirement ceremony.

Marcus Justin Paul van Duren (Campolindo) - Landscaped three traffic triangles for Edna Brewer Middle School in Oakland.