LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Troop 303 honors three new Eagle Scouts

Boy Scout Troop 303 in Orinda honored three new Eagle Scouts at a Court of Honor Award Ceremony at Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church. Taylor Dixon, Paul Griessel and William Walker earned the highest advancement rank in scouting by fulfilling requirements in the areas of leadership, service and outdoor skills, as well as completing at least 21 merit badges and organizing and leading a service project benefiting their community. These three young men joined the less than 4 percent of all scouts who achieve Eagle rank.

For their Eagle projects, Dixon, who was attending Bishop O' Dowd High School in Oakland at the time, worked with the Oakland Zoo to construct wooden platforms for utility cabinets that the camels, lion and tiger keepers use to store supplies. Acalanes High School graduate Griessel installed a bike repair station along Moraga Way part of the 17-mile Lafayette - Orinda - Moraga Loop. The bike repair station features a DERO Fixit, Air Tire Pump and Swerve Racks. The Fixit includes all the necessary tools to perform basic repairs and maintenance. There is also a QR code on the Fixit so that smartphone users can look up common repair "how tos." The repair station is the same one used at Google Headquarters and can be located using an app. Rising Campolindo senior Walker worked on various construction projects at St. Stephen's Church in Orinda, including building a fence, repairing directional signs, and replacing classroom signs. He and those who assisted him logged over 250 hours to complete the project.

For over 53 years Orinda Boy Scout Troop 303, chartered by the Rotary Club of Orinda, has been providing boys with a variety of hiking, camping, community service and leadership opportunities. To learn more about the troop, visit www.bsatroop303orinda.com or contact scoutmaster Jim Brovelli (925) 997-8437.