December 2016 Blog

Five Scouts were awarded the rank of Eagle Scout at a Court of Honor ceremony held December 7, 2016 at Boy Scout Troop 642 sponsored by Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church. The new Eagle Scouts from Memorial High School are junior Varun Dixit, junior Abhiraj Sinha, senior Matthew Garvin, senior Alec Abrams and Stratford High School senior Andrew Dawson.

All members of Troop 642 are proud these young men and the achievement that they have earned.  Eagle Scout is the highest achievement or rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).  The requirements necessary to achieve this rank take years to fulfill. 

Varun Dixit earned 24 merit badges and served in the following leadership positions:  Librarian, Webmaster, Assistant Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader and Troop Guide.  For his Eagle Project, Varun created four dog waste stations for the Houston SPCA.  The Houston SPCA is a nonprofit organization that is Houston’s first and largest animal protection organization and shelter.  Varun designed and built four stations that included a wooden trashcan holder, a bag dispenser, and a sign.  These stations were installed along a path that the SPCA uses to walk their dogs.  Varun is the first in his family to become an Eagle Scout. 

Abhiraj Sinha attended 5 summer camps and held the following leadership positions:  Quartermaster, Assistant Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader and Troop Guide.  Outside of Scouts, Abhiraj is a volunteer at Memorial Herman and he has achieved the presidential award for volunteering from Memorial Mustang Outreach Bunch.  For his Eagle Project, Abhiraj refurbished two garden beds and planted twelve roses in them, repainted 65 parking spots, and built an oak picnic table at the Hindu Worship Society of Houston.  Abhiraj is the first in his family to become an Eagle Scout.   

Matthew Garvin earned a total of 28 merit badges and served in the following leadership positions:  Librarian, Assistant Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader and Troop Guide.  For his Eagle Project, Matthew constructed and stained fourteen 48x48 in. frames and two 5 ft. long benches for American Legion Post 521.  The frames hold the pictures and names of the Texas veterans who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The families of these fallen soldiers now have a place to grieve and pay their respects.  Matthew is the second in his family to become an Eagle Scout.

Andrew Dawson earned 23 merit badges and served in the following leadership positions:  Assistant Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Chaplain’s Aide, Quartermaster and Troop Guide.  For his Eagle Project, Andrew constructed a pigeon coop for the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary.  He designed, constructed and installed an 8x4 ft. pigeon coop with a separate aviary extending an additional three feet.  His project allows the Sanctuary to receive and maintain pigeons to show the children who both visit and participate in year-round programs and gives visitors an opportunity to view the birds close up.  Andrew is the first in his family to become an Eagle Scout.

Alec Abrams earned 22 merit badges and served in the following leadership positions:  Assistant Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Quartermaster, and Troop Guide.  Alec’s Eagle Project took place at a home owned by VitaLiving, a company with several group homes for special needs adult residents in Houston.  The project entailed the removal of an old and run down fence and construction of a new one in the backyard of the beneficiary’s house.  Alec also built and mulched a raised flower bed, and planted a mulched and edged azalea bed.  Alec plans to remain an active member of Troop 642.