Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Dryburgh, Jara, Mahaffey and Winzeler

Troop 15 of Piedmont Boy Scout Council is proud to announce that Matthew Mahaffey, Isaiah Winzeler, David Dryburgh, and Tom Jara have earned the rank of Eagle, the highest rank in Boy Scouts. Their Court of Honor takes place this Saturday, January 2, 2016, at the Guild Hall of Piedmont Community Church, 2:00 p.m.

David Dryburgh has been involved with scouting since 2004 when he became a cub scout in Pack 4. In Troop 15 David has held leadership positions including Den Chief, Patrol Leader, and Quartermaster.

Highlights of his Scouting experience include participation and leadership in Piedmont Camporees, backpacking trips and completion of the National Youth Leadership Training. He participated in monthly campouts including snow camping and surfing. He also participated in the annual Christmas Tree Lot, Piedmont 4th of July Pancake Breakfast and Troop 15 Snow Cone booth, Scouting for Food drives and community service projects for the San Francisco Presidio and Angel Island.

For his Eagle Project David worked with the East Bay Regional Park District on an environmental habitat restoration project in Redwood Park. He has enjoyed hiking, mountain biking, and taking his dog for long walks in the parks. Troop 15 enjoyed many hikes and campouts throughout the Park District. David wanted to give back to an organization that benefits many individuals in the Bay Area.

David played lacrosse all four years at Piedmont High School, was a PHS Scholar Athlete and was a member of the PHS Honor Society. David was a Piedmont Community Church Mexico Mission Trip volunteer throughout his four years in high school and a team leader in his senior year. David is currently a student at the University of Washington and plays on the University of Washington Club Lacrosse Team.

Tom Jara started his scouting career in third grade when he joined Pack 4 as a cub scout under the leadership of Bruce Turner, followed by Rueben Rivera. In Troop 15 Tom held leadership positions including Den Chief, Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader and Troop Guide.

When asked what he liked most about scouting, he will enthusiastically tell you about the glory of the High Sierra weeklong backpacking hikes, helping other scouts to learn and thrive, completing National Youth Leadership Training, snow camping, skiing and of course, the sand dunes of Dillon Beach.

For his Eagle project Tom designed and built a concessions cabinet and display shelf for 924 Gilman - a nonprofit venue for music, art, and community events in Berkeley where young people work cooperatively in a drug and alcohol-free safe space. Because it is 100 percent volunteer run, concessions provide a much-needed revenue source. Tom spends many of his weekends there and was proud to contribute to a place that benefits so many kids, both aspiring musical artists and their fans.

Tom is currently a senior at Piedmont High School where he co-founded the slam poetry club Together We Slam, through which he had the pleasure of performing at Yoshi’s. He is a member of the PHS Honor Society and has been a PHS Scholar Athlete for his participation in track and field. He served as a PHS Youth Educator and is a proud member of the Bernie Sanders and Feminism clubs.

Matthew Mahaffey started his scouting career as a Tiger Cub in Pack 295 in Oakland California in 2003. As a member of Troop 15 Matthew held the positions of Den Chief, Patrol Leader, and Senior Patrol Leader and participated in many scouting activities, including a couple of High Sierra hikes.

Matthew’s first trip with Troop 15 was to Angel Island to help clear the road and gutters of debris with plans for an overnight campout. Unfortunately, it would not stop raining so the troop had to go back home after the service project. Even though they had to leave, Matthew enjoyed the trip. Over the years he has been on many trips - his favorite being snow camping in the winter. Every year he looked forward to going to the summer scout camps, including Cherry Valley, Wolfboro, the National Youth Leadership Training camp at Wente. Matthew was also a member of the Order of the Arrow.

For his Eagle Scout project he built two benches for the students on the campus of his high school, Oakland Technical High. He did a service project for the Lake Merritt Boating Center where he attended sailing camps and later worked as an employee of the Oakland Park and Recreation Dept. Matthew built a block and tackle display that is used in the “Sailing to Science” programs for local elementary school students.

While in high school Matthew played lacrosse. During his senior year the Oakland Tech Lacrosse club won third place in California. In the winter he enjoys skiing at Tahoe. Currently he is attending San Francisco State University.

Isaiah Winzeler has been a part of Scouting since he joined Oakland Cub Scout Pack 295 in 2007. Isaiah earned his Arrow of Light with his pack before moving on to Boy Scouts with Troop 15 here in Piedmont. As a Boy Scout, Isaiah has held the positions of Den Chief, Quartermaster, Patrol Leader and Senior Patrol Leader for his troop.

Isaiah’s most memorable experiences while in Scouting include several 50+ mile backpacking trips throughout the High Sierras, river rafting down the American River, hiking in Big Basin Redwoods, and summer camp at Camp Cherry Valley on Catalina Island just to name a few. He has logged just short of 300 miles hiking and has over 100 nights camping. He participated in various community service projects throughout the Bay Area including volunteering for Angel Island State Park, Alameda County Community Food Bank, San Francisco Presidio, the Piedmont Christmas Tree Lot, Scouting for Food, and has 182 service hours logged while with the troop. Isaiah completed his BSA National Youth Leadership Training in 2012 and became a member of the Order of the Arrow, BSA’s honor society, in 2014.

For Isaiah’s Eagle Scout Project he designed and built three redwood and cedar wheelchair accessible planter boxes for the Center for Elders Independence in Oakland. The CEI is a nonprofit organization that provides housing for independent seniors. The planter boxes give handicapped seniors the opportunity to have equal access to the planter boxes.

Isaiah has attended Oakland School for the Arts since the 6th grade and began his studies with his emphasis being Theatre Arts which allowed him to participate in various productions on the main stage at the Fox Theater. Isaiah is currently in his senior year and will graduate with an emphasis in Digital Media. Photography, along with Video Production and Editing, have become his passions. He used the skills he learned at OSA to help him enter the internship program at local Youth Radio. After completing the various programs offered, Isaiah went on to become employed with Youth Radio and continues to work for them as a Multimedia Peer Teacher, passing on the skills he’s learned to others. Isaiah is an avid skateboarder and enjoys making skate movies and music videos with friends.