June 24, 2004

Matthew R. Rimroth achieves rank of Eagle in Boy Scout Troop #294

Matthew R. Rimroth was awarded the rank of Eagle, the Boy Scouts highest honor, along with scout Patrick Donovan, in front of family, friends and present and former scouts of Troop #294 on June 12 at the Joint Venture Churches on Camden Avenue.

Matthew was born in Miami, Fla. Aug. 17, 1987. He moved with his family to New Hampshire and Massachusettes before moving to San Diego in 1996. The family moved again to the San Jose area where Matt attended Randol Elementary and then transferred to Graystone Elementary. He attended Bret Harte Middle School and is now at Leland High School where he will be a junior next year.

Matt has always been interested in sports and has tried Little League baseball and was on the Almaden Dolphins Swim Team. But his real love was roller hockey where he played on multiple teams for over five years. His interest then turned to lacrosse, which he began to play in seventh grade at Bret Harte when Brian Cheeks, a well-loved teacher and coach introduced the sport. Matt has continued to play lacrosse at Leland and is a middie on the junior varsity team.

Matthew’s climb to Eagle started when he joined the Tiger Cubs in San Diego at age 7. Moving to the Bay Area he joined Pack #274, where he enjoyed camping and hiking in the redwoods, sleeping over on the submarine Pampanito and building a race cart. He received his Arrow of Light Award as well as the Conservation Award.

In 1999 he bridged over into Troop #294. There he was introduced to many new adventures such as repelling at Moaning Caverns, white water rafting, ski outings and snow camping in Yosemite, where over four feet of snow fell on the scouts overnight! He attended Camp Oljato in the summer where he worked hard and earned merit badges in wilderness survival, emergency preparedness and rifle and shotgun, to name a few. In his second year at Camp Oljato he earned nine merit badges and advanced two ranks, which was a troop record.

Matt has held many positions in Troop #294 including patrol leader, librarian, den chief for Pack #284, chaplain, assistant patrol leader and senior patrol leader for over 11 months.

Last year, along with seven other scouts and adults, Matt traveled to Camp Philmont, in New Mexico, for probably the most exciting two-week outing of his scouting career. There he learned about teamwork, backpacking and nature. He backpacked well over 70 miles in those two weeks learning many new skills along the way. He is looking forward to returning!

“In total, Matt has been in scouting for over nine years and during that time he has had many great experiences and has learned many useful skills that he will carry throughout his life,” said Matt’s proud mom Connie.