Six gain Eagle Scout rank Six gain Eagle Scout rank (July 17, 2002)

Six scouts recently achieved Eagle Scout status in Menlo Park's Troop 109, a troop spokesperson announced.

The new Eagle Scouts are Theodore Enns, Greg Vallarino and Garrett Jacobs from Menlo-Atherton High School; and Chris Child, Amarnath Santhanam and John Sutherland from Sacred Heart Preparatory.

To achieve Eagle Scout status, each scout had to earn about 21 badges, hold a leadership position, do community service, and complete a project.

** Chris Child coordinated 20 volunteers who spent more than 100 hours designing and building a storage shed for a garden at La Entrada Middle School, with materials donated by the Home Depot in San Carlos. Chris plays varsity water polo and is captain of the Sacred Heart varsity swim team. He plans to major in computer science and engineering at MIT this fall.

** Theodore Enns planned and supervised 20 volunteers who re-labeled several thousand books for the Menlo-Atherton High School library. He is co-founder and co-president of the Diplomacy Club, a member of the Debate Club, and was on the M-A track team for two years. Theodore competes in Hapkido, a blend of martial arts. A junior, he plans to study physics in college.

** Garrett Jacobs refurbished Menlo-Atherton High School's Track Shack, which is used to sell refreshments during football and track season. He is a freshman at Chapman University in Orange, California, where he is majoring in advertising at the School of Television. During high school he competed in 12 seasons of varsity athletics, specializing in lacrosse. This summer he will be recruiting new lacrosse players from around the country.

** Amarnath Santhanam refurbished computers that were donated for needy families to St. Elizabeth Seton School. Amarnath is a National Merit finalist who participates in debate and mock trials, and helped start the Political Free Thought Club. He is also in the Quiz/Science Bowl Club, which competes in the Peninsula Quiz Kids TV show.

** John Sutherland's project involved the planning, construction and installation of native bird nesting boxes in the Arastradero Preserve and other nearby locations. John is a bagpiper whose band won the "Grade 2" world championships in Glasgow, Scotland. This fall John plans to further develop his piping skills at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia.

** Greg Vallarino formed a crew of 20 volunteers, who spent more than 150 hours renovating the storage area outside the drama room at Menlo-Atherton High School, with materials donated by Havalex Inc. Greg received a PTA service award last month. He also plays the trumpet in the Menlo-Atherton Jazz Band. This fall he plans to attend the University of Southern California on a dean's scholarship.

Troop 109 meets at Hillview Middle School and is celebrating its 63rd year in the Menlo Park area. For more information, call Sue Kayton at 853-1711.

Information provided by Sue Kayton, who assists Troop 109.