Annual Dinner 2019

Posted on April 3, 2023 by stephlas

Press Release: April 25, 2018 | Boundary Oaks Golf Course, Walnut Creek, CA

“Everyone Keeps Earning Merit Badges. Learning Never Stops”

Las Aguilas de Diablo celebrated its 30th annual dinner honoring the Mt. Diablo Silverado Council newest Eagle Scouts. The attendees included top business and civic leaders, including Senior Deputy District Attorney Paul Graves, EBMUD Board Member John Coleman, and San Ramon Valley School Board Member Ken Mintz. Over 30 Scouts attended the sponsored event where they shared dinner and lively conversation about scouting adventures.

Then, each scout stood before the group and presented their career aspirations after high school. “This is my favorite part of the annual dinner”, said Eric Erickson, Senior Vice President Colliers International, “We know whichever path these scouts choose they will carry forward leadership and scouting values to their futures because they are Eagles.”

The keynote speaker was Daniel Clark, a senior effects engineer at Pixar and Eagle Scout (1996). Mr. Clark shared examples of his work from the movie Coco and Incredibles 2. The topic of his talk was The Renaissance Man—“everyone keeps earning merit badges…Learning never stops”.

The 2018 scholarship recipients were:

Robert E. Witbeck Scholarship $5,000 | Casey Roark | Troop 465, Concord, CA
William Upson Scholarship $1,000 | Ivan Dikov | Troop 224, Lafayette, CA
Richard Doty Scholarship $1,000 | Patrick Jaime | Venturing Crew 0317, Concord, CA
Robert Scuitto Scholarship $1,000 | Jonathon Louie |Troop 810, Walnut Creek, CA.
LAdD Scholarship $1,000 | Christian Velasquez | Troop 216, Alamo, CA

Click here to learn more about our Scholarships.

Adams Eagle Scout Service Project Award: The award is the Adams Award from NESA (National Eagle Scout Association). The project involved building and placing 10 new wood duck boxes at Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area in Fremont.

Las Aguilas de Diablo recognizes those who have attained the highest ranks of Scouting by annually hosting the Mt. Diablo Silverado Council Eagle Recognition Event each spring. If you are an Eagle Scout, Quartermaster, or Venture Silver Recipient no matter the age you can be a part of the legacy. For more information contact Gary Snyder or visit our Membership page.

View the 2018 Annual Recognition Dinner Official Program Here

Special Thanks to All Who Attended

Dinner Banner 2023

Posted on November 6, 2019February 4, 2025 by stephlas

Donate

Posted on January 16, 2018March 7, 2021 by stephlas

Your Donation Makes a Difference

Our objective is to provide a permanent source of funding for scholarships for qualified Eagle, Quartermaster, and Summit Award recipients. Currently, scholarships average $1,000 each. Seven scholarships were awarded last year. Scholarships are awarded annually based on need and availability.

Meet our 2018 scholarship winners on our Scholarship page.

Be a Part of the Legacy

A sincere thank you to our current donors.

Robert E. Witbeck Scholarship $5,000

Richard Doty Scholarship $1,000

Robert Sciutto Scholarship $1,000

Las Aguilas Scholarship $1,000

William Upson Scholarship $1,000

FAQ

What is the Eagle Scout Scholarship Trust Fund?

The Eagle Scout Scholarship Trust is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. The Trust works closely with the Las Aguilas de Diablo organization, a community of dedicated leaders, who themselves hold the Eagle Award and seek to recognize those youths who have earned the highest rank in the Scouting program. We sponsor a special dinner for each scout who has achieved top ranking during that year.

How is the Scholarship Trust Fund Managed?

The Eagle Scout Scholarship Trust Fund is conservatively invested in low-cost managed mutual funds. The goal is to have the Fund generate the sufficient income necessary to fund scholarships while invested for capital growth to ensure that the fund grows and is not diminished by inflation. No administrative costs are paid out of the Fund.

How can gifts be made to the Eagle Scout Scholarship Trust Fund?

Gifts to the Eagle Scout Scholarship Trust may be made with cash, stock, bonds, insurance policies and bequests. Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from IRAs can be transferred to a 501(c) non-profit on a tax-favored basis.

*Check with your tax attorney and/or financial advisor to see how it fits with your situation.

Is the Trust a Tax-Exempt Organization?

Yes, the Trust is an IRS-registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization and gifts may be deductible according to IRS regulations. The Eagle Scout Scholarship Trust IRS number is: 68-044910. Contributions to the Eagle Scholarship Trust may be made the attention of Trust Treasurer Brian Thiessen, PO Box 949 Alamo, CA 94507; Phone (925) 837-3355 or email bdtalamo@pacbell.net

*Check with your tax attorney and/or financial advisor to see how it fits with your situation.

Build Legacy Through Scholarships

Posted on March 22, 2017February 12, 2025 by stephlas

Las Aguilas de Diablo honors the legacy of Scouting’s highest awards by providing multiple scholarships to qualified candidates.

Las Aguilas Legacy Scholarships ($18,000 available this year)

At the GGAC Eagle Celebration event on March 30, 2025 (details at This Link), the local tax-exempt organization Eagle Scout Scholarships plans to grant $18,000 in scholarships to eligible Eagle Scouts, and also to Quartermasters, and to Venture Summit Award recipients, who apply for and are selected by ESS. The number of individual scholarships and their amounts will be determined by ESS. The scholarships include the Robert L. Witbeck Engineering/Music scholarship, the Million Dollar Round Table scholarship, the Upson family scholarship for study of medicine, the Quentin Alexander Memorial Scholarship, the Richmond family scholarship, and the Scuitto family scholarship. The deadline to apply for the scholarships to be recognized at the event is March 9th. Clink on the link below to download the 2025 application form, or contact ESS’ treasurer, John McClintic, at jmcclintic@bamlaw.com.

Qualification Requirements

All applicants must:

• Have earned the rank of Eagle Scout, Quartermaster, or Venturing Summit Award in the Golden Gate Area Council.
• Provide an official transcript of grades for the last three years.
• Be a graduating high school senior or an undergraduate college student no later than completion of the junior year.
• You may receive the scholarship one time only.
• Have demonstrated leadership ability in Scouting and a strong record of participation in activities outside of Scouting.
• Provide a statement by the applicant clearly stating why he believes he needs financial aid. The statement must be signed by the applicant and countersigned by the parent.
• Provide a recommendation letter from a volunteer or professional Scout leader who knows the applicant personally. This is the only endorsement required. Endorsements from teachers, counselors, etc. should not be included.

Download Scholarship Application

Meet some of last year’s scholarship recipients.

Sam Wu

Venturing Crew 0317

Upson Scholarship $1000

Sam Brown

Troop 465 | Concord, CA

Robert L. Witbeck Engineering Scholarship $5,000

Preston Trager

Troop 810 | Walnut Creek, CA

Robert Sciutto Scholarship $1000

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

National Eagle Scout Association

NESA Academic Scholarships

Academic scholarships are based on school and Scouting participation, academic performance, and financial need. Applicants must score a minimum 1800 SAT (if taken before January, 2016), 1290 (if taken after March, 2016), or 28 ACT to apply. These include a varying number of NESA scholarships, and a varying number of Mabel and Lawrence S. Cooke scholarships. The Mabel and Lawrence S. Cooke scholarships are awarded annually and include four $25,000 scholarships (payable at $6,250 per year) and one $48,000 scholarship (up to $12,000 payable for four years), plus a varying number of others.

NESA offers an additional academic scholarship called the $50,000 NESA STEM scholarship (up to $12,500 payable for four years) to an applicant who plans to major in a science, technology, engineering, or math field.

NESA Merit Scholarships

The second type of NESA scholarships are the merit scholarships. Merit scholarships are based on school and Scouting participation, and community service. These awards cover the $2,000 and $4,000 Bailey scholarships, the $2,500 Robert and Rebecca Palmer scholarships, the Michael S. Malone/Windrush Publishing journalism scholarship, and the $5,000 Hall/McElwain merit scholarships. Each BSA region reviews applications and awards a varying number of these scholarships to local Scouts.

Learn More

Institutional Scholarships

Josh Sain Memorial Scholarship

Awarding Agency: Ostrander Scholar Society, Burleson, Texas

Description & Requirements: An Eagle Scout; a Brotherhood or Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow; a high school senior or a college-age Arrowman under 25; currently registered in Scouting and an Order of the Arrow lodge; and have the approval of the OA lodge adviser or chapter adviser. Applicants must attend or plan on attending a fully accredited college or university and be seeking an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree.

Applicants must submit one letter of recommendation with their application.

Learn More

Dofflemyer Scholarship

Awarding Agency: Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.

Stanford University awards scholarships based on a family’s demonstrated need, not on merit. Students initially receive financial aid from a general scholarship fund. However, funding is sometimes drawn from named funds like the Dofflemyer Scholarship, which gives preference to Eagle Scouts. Therefore, applicants who are Eagle Scouts need only follow the university’s standard application process to demonstrate eligibility.

Learn More

Civic/Military

Veterans of Foreign Wars Scout of the Year

Awarding Agency: The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States

Description & Requirements: This scholarship program is open to registered, active members of Boy Scout troops, Venturing crews, and Sea Scout ships. Applicant must have received the Eagle Scout Award, the Venturing Silver Award, or the Sea Scout Quartermaster Award and must have demonstrated practical citizenship in school, Scouting, and the community.

Application must be submitted through a single, local VFW post.

Learn More

American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year

Awarding Agency: The American Legion

Description & Requirements: The American Legion awards a $10,000 scholarship to its Eagle Scout of the Year and three second-place scholarships of $2,500 each; awards may also be given at the department (state) level. Applicant must have received the Eagle Scout Award and the religious emblem awarded by his religious institution and must have demonstrated practical citizenship in church, school, Scouting, and the community. Applicant must be the son or grandson of an American Legion or American Legion Auxiliary member, or he must be a member of a Scouting unit chartered to a Legion post, an Auxiliary unit, or a Sons of the American Legion squadron.

Learn More

Religious

Emmett J. Doerr Memorial Distinguished Scout Scholarship

Awarding agency: National Catholic Committee on Scouting

Description and requirements: Each year, the National Catholic Committee on Scouting awards scholarships to five outstanding Catholic young men or women who are high school seniors and currently registered and active in Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, or Venturing. The applicant must have earned the Eagle Scout Award or the Silver Award; have earned the Ad Altare Dei or Pope Pius XII religious emblem; have held a Scouting leadership position; and have served in his or her home parish.

Award amount: Five $2,000 scholarships

Learn More

Chester M. Vernon Memorial Eagle Scout Scholarship

Awarding Agency: National Jewish Committee on Scouting

Description & Requirements: The recipient of this scholarship will receive a $1,000 scholarship per year for four years. Applicant must be currently registered and active in Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, or Venturing. He must have earned the Eagle Scout Award; have earned the Ner Tamid or Etz Chaim religious emblem; be active in a synagogue; and have demonstrated practical citizenship in the synagogue, school, Scouting unit, and community. He must demonstrate financial need.

Award Amount: $1,000 per year for four years

Deadline: January 31

Learn More

Rick Arkans Eagle Scout Scholarship

Awarding Agency: National Jewish Committee on Scouting

Description & Requirements: The recipient of this scholarship will receive a one-time $1,000 scholarship. Applicant must be currently registered and active in Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, or Venturing. He must have earned the Eagle Scout Award; have earned the Ner Tamid or Etz Chaim religious emblem; be active in a synagogue; and have demonstrated practical citizenship in the synagogue, school, Scouting unit, and community. He must demonstrate financial need.

Award Amount: $1,000

Deadline: January 31

Learn More

Frank L. Weil Memorial Eagle Scout Scholarship

Awarding Agency: National Jewish Committee on Scouting

Description & Requirements: The recipient of this scholarship will receive a one-time $1,000 scholarship; two runners-up will receive one-time $500 scholarships. Applicant must be currently registered and active in Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, or Venturing. He must have earned the Eagle Scout Award; have earned the Ner Tamid or Etz Chaim religious emblem; be active in a synagogue; and have demonstrated practical citizenship in the synagogue, school, Scouting unit, and community.

Award Amount: $500 to $1,000

Deadline: January 31

Learn More

Eastern Orthodox Scouting Scholarships

Awarding Agency: Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting

Description & Requirements: The Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting awards three one-time merit-based scholarships each year to Eastern Orthodox Scouts. Applicant must be registered and active in Boy Scouting or Girl Scouting and must have earned the Eagle Scout Award (Boy Scouts) or the Gold Award (Girl Scouts). Applicant must be active in an Eastern Orthodox church and have earned the Alpha Omega religious emblem. One scholarship, funded by the Russian Children’s Welfare Society, is reserved for applicants of Russian descent.

Award Amount: $500 to $1,000

Deadline: May 1

Learn More

Annual Recognition Event

Posted on March 20, 2017February 12, 2025 by stephlas

At the GGAC Eagle Celebration event on March 30, 2025 (details at https://eagles.ggacbsa.org), the local tax-exempt organization Eagle Scout Scholarships plans to grant $18,000 in scholarships to eligible Eagle Scouts, and also to Quartermasters, and to Venture Summit Award recipients, who apply for and are selected by ESS. The number of individual scholarships and their amounts will be determined by ESS. The scholarships include the Robert L. Witbeck Engineering/Music scholarship, the Million Dollar Round Table scholarship, the Upson family scholarship for study of medicine, the Quentin Alexander Memorial Scholarship, the Richmond family scholarship, and the Scuitto family scholarship.

The deadline to apply for the scholarships to be recognized at the event is March 9th.

The youth attire for the evening will be full scout uniform. If that is not possible, a coat and tie are appropriate.

Las Aguilas de Diablo is an organization of older Eagle scouts who, since 1987, have annually recognized new Eagles, Quartermasters and Summit Award recipients in the Golden Gate Area Council at an annual event held each spring in central Contra Costa County. In 2017, the guest speaker at the event was Joe Starkey, voice of the University of California Golden Bears and former broadcaster for the San Francisco 49ers. In 2018, Daniel Clark, a technical director at Pixar in Emeryville and an Eagle, did an entertaining presentation featuring the movies “Coco” and “Incredibles 2.” In 2019, Colin Braudrick, Manager of Global Workplace Security for Walt Disney Company, did an entertaining and informative presentation that included Disney videos.

2016 Dinner Speaker

2018 Dinner Gallery

Las Aguilas de Diablo hosts annual recognition events, which are free to all new Eagles, Quartermasters and Summit Award recipients in the Golden Gate Area Council. Efforts are made to match sponsors with scouts in the area of each scout’s interest. Sponsors include not only members of Las Aguilas de Diablo but also any adult who has an interest in connecting with the top youth in Scouting.

In order to join Las Aguilas de Diablo or to enroll as a sponsor, please visit our membership page. Because of the recent expansion and merger of Mt. Diablo Silverado Council into the new Golden Gate Area Council, Las Aguilas de Diablo is in need of new members who are Eagles in order to make sure this important Recognition Event will continue in the future. If you are an Eagle, Quartermaster, Summit Award recipient or recipient of an equivalent award from another country’s scout program but not a member of Las Aguilas de Diablo, please join us through our website.

Sponsors may also enroll on this site or by mail. Annual membership dues are $250 ($150 if 35 or younger) and after a ten year membership you will be eligible for the James E. West Award since $100 of the $250 annual membership goes to support the Golden Gate Area Council Endowment Fund. The balance of your contribution covers the cost of a dinner for you and a scout (about $100) and for scholarships and administrative expenses (about $50). Your contribution is tax-deductible.

Please register if you are able to attend this event and have not done so already. I will announce scholarship award winners at the event and also provide information to all Eagles who attend about how to apply for a scholarship on the Las Aguilas website as we will award additional scholarships to worthy applicants by the end of this year.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Hope to see you on April 7. Thanks you again for your ongoing support of Scouting. YIS, Gary Snyder

Download Membership Registration

Support the GGACC Endowment Fund

Posted on March 19, 2017June 15, 2021 by stephlas

Our Annual Dinner Event Eagle Scouts and Alumni

Encouraging gifts to the endowment fund is one of Scouting’s highest priorities. It is one of the best ways to insure that the Mt. Diablo Silverado Council can continue to offer the outstanding programs it now has long into the future and also grow to meet the needs of the youth and communities it serves. One hundred dollars of each member’s dues goes to supporting the GGAC Endowment Fund. Members who have ten years of good standing also earn the James E West Fellowship Award.

Explore Membership Options