January 28, 2005

Matt Anderson earns Eagle Scout rank

Anderson achieves highest honor in Boy Scouts

Matthew James Anderson recently finished all the requirements to earn Eagle Scout status—the highest honor achievable in Boy Scouts. A June 2004 graduate of Leigh High School, Matt is currently attending Ohlone Community College in Fremont.

Matt Anderson’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor occurred Nov. 20.

Matt started in Cub Scout Pack 275 in 1993 as a Wolf. After four years of going through the ranks of Cub Scouts, Matt crossed over to Boy Scout Troop 264 in April 1997.

Matt’s favorite memory is a snowball fight in Tahoe when he and his fellow scouts were done skiing for the day. But what he remembers most is sneaking up on Scoutmaster Doug Van Ess, stuffing snow down the back of his shirt and running away—fast.

Howard Sutton, his past Scoutmaster, remembers a 50-mile float trip they did several years ago. “None of the other Boy Scouts wanted to ride with Matt since he is deaf, so I agreed to canoe the first 10 miles with him.” They both came up with the idea that Howard would tap the paddle two times if he wanted Matt to paddle on the right side or he would tap one time for him to paddle on the left.

As the first obstacle came up in the river, Matt and Sutton found the rest of the scouts all upside down in the river, and they just paddled past them and smiled! “Matt was never afraid of any challenge,” adds Sutton. “He’s a great cook and he really enjoys the outdoors. It’s a great honor to see him achieve his goals in the troop and in life.”

Matt earned the 21 required merit badges to achieve Eagle status. He has successfully completed camping; city in community, nation, world; communications; emergency preparedness; environmental science; family life; first aid; life saving; mammal study; metal work; personal fitness; personal management; photography; pottery; rifle shooting; shotgun shooting; swimming; veterinary medicine; and wood carving.

Matt received 11 letters of recognition from President George W. Bush; President Jimmy Carter; Pope John Paul II; Secretary of State Colin Powell; Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger; Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren; Representative Nancy Pelosi; District Councilmember David Cortese; Mayor Ron Gonzales; Santa Clara County Council and the National Office of Boy Scouts of America.