Matthew Michael Christopher Williams of Troop #319 achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.  He was born in Burbank and moved to La Crescenta at the age of 3. He attended Monte Vista Elementary, Rosemont Middle and Crescenta Valley High schools. While attending Monte Vista, he joined Cub Scout Pack 302 as a Tiger Cub. He completed all ranks of Cub Scouting and earned his Arrow of Light, bridging to Troop 319 in La Crescenta.

In addition to Scouting, Matthew was involved with Region 88 AYSO soccer for over a decade as well as the Crescenta Valley High School track and cross country teams throughout his years at CV. In the summer going into his junior year, Williams participated in the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics in Virginia, running the 4×400 meter and 4×800 meter relay races. In the 4×800, his team won seventh place in the nation. He also loves playing Fantasy Football and poker, and holds fond his tenure as co-president of the Spanish Club at CV High.

His trail to Eagle included earning 35 merit badges, hiking over 400 miles, camping 85 nights, providing 140 service hours, receiving the Ad Altare Dei Catholic Award and participating in numerous summer camps, among which his favorites were Camp Cherry Valley at Catalina and Fiesta Island in San Diego.

According to Williams, his favorite merit badges were archery, wilderness survival and metal works. He was honored to be Scout of the quarter three times and held the positions of troop Scribe and Patrol Leader.

He attended many backpacks in the local mountains including Mt. San Jacinto, Mt. San Gorgonio and San Bernardino Peak, all of which are a difficult trek above 10,000 feet.  One of his most memorable treks was attending Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico in which he was the crew chief.

Williams has a passion for playing and watching all types of games from football and soccer to chess, checkers, cards and game shows. With his love of games and helping others, it was natural that for his Eagle Project he oversaw the painting of a large checkerboard on the asphalt playground at La Crescenta Elementary. In this time of school budget cuts, he wanted to do something for the enjoyment of students. He raised all the necessary funds for paint, additional supplies, and to purchase the large checker pieces by pet sitting for friends and family members.

  eagle scout, matthew williams