Matthew Gutterman Earns Scouting's Highest Honor

Editors Note: The following profile of a new Eagle Scout from Troop 431 is one  of six in a series that will run before the story of their Court of Honor is published.

senior Matthew Gutterman, 18, was one of six scouts in Boy Scout Troop 431 of East Texas to receive his Eagle Award Feb. 4 at in Wescosville.

He began scouting 12 years ago as a Cub Scout, and has served as librarian, scribe, patrol leader, and instructor.

Gutterman has earned 35 merit badges, hiked 208 miles, and camped 61 nights with Troop 431 and has attended the Resica Falls Scout Reservation for four years where he served as a staff member.  In 2011, he earned the "Staff Member of the Year Award." 

He is an Ordeal member of Order of the Arrow, the induction into which, according to the Boy Scouts of America, requires that the scout complete an ordeal which is intended to emphasize service and self-sacrifice. Candidates maintain complete silence, sleep alone overnight, receive small amounts of food and perform camp work projects.

For his Eagle Project, Matthew built and painted 18 wooden signs for the Arthritis Foundation which were used for the Foundation annual walk, "Let's Move Together."  The signs were painted and stenciled with the foundation's name.  Each sign also included a directional arrow or text providing directions to walk participants.  Matthew then placed the signs along the walk route to guide the walkers.

Matthew lives with his parents, Melissa and Steven Gutterman and sister Lauren in Macungie.

Outside of scouting, Matthew is a captain of the Emmaus Steel Hornets Robotics Team, and has helped design and build three robots.

Matthew plans to attend the Pennslvania State University in the fall and to major in Security and Risk Analysis and minor in Information, Science, and Technology.