Matthew was born Feb.19, 1993 at Verdugo Hills Hospital, the eldest child of Ava and Kevin and brother to Meaghan, Mallory and Madelyn. He started his Scouting career as a Tiger Cub in the first grade at St. Bede the Venerable School, La Cañada where he most enjoyed the Pinewood Derbies and Raingutter Regattas.

After earning his Arrow of Light and with careful consideration, Matthew chose JPL Troop 509. He has enjoyed every minute in the Troop.

Matthew has gone on numerous hikes including Webelo, Angeles Crest Teepee, and Cherry Canyon. He has enjoyed many adventurous outings like Kern River whitewater rafting, canyoneering below Mt. Baldy, ocean kayaking at the Channel Islands, beach camping in San Diego, visiting the USS Midway, rock climbing at Joshua Tree, and waterskiing at Lake Arrowhead and Pyramid Lake. The trip of his Scout career was Philmont where he was elected Crew Leader and led six other Scouts and two adults as they climbed to several peaks including Urraca, Mt. Phillips, Thunder Ridge, Cimarroncito, Schaefers, and the Tooth of Time. It was a trip that strengthened the crew as a team and built strong friendships.

Matthew started playing the trumpet and is a bugler for the Troop. He has competed in annual SCSBOA events, winning an “Excellent” several times. Matthew has also served as a bugler for Troop 502 and 507 Eagle Courts of Honor.

Matthew has held several positions in the Troop including Assistant Patrol Leader and Den Chief, earning the Den Chief Service Award. He has been a Patrol Leader and was elected Assistant Senior Patrol Leader and the following year Senior Patrol Leader.

For his Leadership Service Project, he helped his former church and school community at St. Bede by refurbishing six playground benches, replacing over 400 tennis balls and felt pads on the bottom of the feet of the classroom chairs, and bolting 16 lunch tables to the concrete floor lunch area. With the help of volunteers from Troop 509 and friends from St. Francis and St. Bede schools, over 275 hours were spent helping his elementary school.

Matthew has also earned both Boy Scout Catholic religious emblems: Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII as well as Parvuli Dei in Cub Scouts. He also took on the role of Troop Scribe and later Troop Webmaster. He is looking forward to at least one Eagle Palm before his 18th birthday.

Matthew is currently a senior at St. Francis High School and is a part of several clubs on campus. Matthew holds down two part time jobs, one as the Sacristan at St. Bede the Venerable Catholic Church and the other at Oakmont Country Club where he works in the bag room.

Matthew looks forward to graduating in the spring and going to college to pursue a degree in engineering.

Matthew is thankful for all of the leaders at JPL especially Mr. Key and his father Kevin who has been the Scoutmaster for the past three years. He is also grateful to his mom, sisters and grandparents who have given love, time, effort and support to help Matthew achieve this award. He also thanks the priests at both St. Francis High School and St. Bede the Venerable Church for their spiritual guidance and love.

  Boy Scouts