5 Golden Eagles
By BARBARA MONCADA
Saturday, July 7, 2007

Boy Scout Troop 719 members join list of highest-ranking scouts.

From left, Brian Takao, Randall Shiozaki, Beau Takagi, Matthew Kubota, and Robb Kaneko of Boy Scout Troop 719 were recently awarded the rank of Eagle Scout at Ken Nakaoka Community Center in Gardena.

Five members of Boy Scout Troop 719, Los Angeles Area Council, Pacific District, were honored this spring as Eagle Scouts at the Ken Nakaoka Community Center in Gardena. The rank of Eagle Scout is the highest rank in the scouting program, attained by only two percent of those in scouting. To attain the rank of Eagle Scout, a scout must earn 21 merit badges, hold a number of leadership positions in scouting, and plan, develop, and supervise a service project.

Recognized at the ceremony for their accomplishments were Robb Kaneko, Matthew Kubota, Randall Shiozaki, Beau Takagi, and Brian Takao.

Robb Kaneko
He is the son of Kevin and Gail Kaneko. He follows a tra­dition of scouting. His older brother, Scott, is an Eagle Scout from Troop 719. His sister, Mari, was in Girl Scouts for many years. Nakano is currently a junior at North High School and is involved in National Honors Society, California Scholastic Federation, Julians and Valiants Service Club, and the North High yearbook staff. He’s currently preparing for track and field. Outside of school, he has enjoyed FOR basketball, Sansei baseball, Tae Kwon Do, and Cheyenne Indian Guides.

Nakano has been with Troop 719 for 5 years, holding posi­tions as Historian, Quartermaster, Assistant Patrol Leader, and Patrol Leader. He is currently the Senior Patrol Leader. One of his favorite experiences was the 2005 Kauai Long Term. His experiences and Leadership roles with the Boy Scouts has taught him the importance of working with others, com­municating clearly, and being organized.

His Eagle Project involved painting the exterior of the back side and the east side walls of Faith United Methodist Church in Torrance. He supervised 54 volunteers for a total of 289 hours.

Matthew Kubota
He is the son of Neil and Midori Kubota, and is a junior at North High School, where he is a member of the Julians and Valiants Service Club. He was and currently on the school wrestling and football teams. Outside of school, he played GEO and FOR basketball and Sansei baseball.

Kubota joined Troop 719 five years ago. He has held the positions of Scribe, Historian, Assistant Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, and is currently an Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. His most memorable experience was when he peaked Mount Whitney. He gained skills such as first aid, teamwork, and leadership, which helped him lead the scouts and others at school during sports events. His Eagle Project consisted of renovating a walkway and painting a handball wall with the school’s logo at Lincoln Elementary School.

Randall Shiozaki
He is the son of Keith and Christine Shiozaki and is at­tending Palos Verdes High School as a junior. His younger brother, Ryan, is on his way to obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout also with Troop 719.

Shiozaki participates at school in Kiwanis, Green Club, Simple Truth Bible Club, BBC, and CSF. After School, he is also involved with the Keystone Service Organization, FOR basketball, Junior Lifeguard program, and Tae Kwon Do.

He entered Troop 719 as a webelo obtaining his Arrow of Light Award from Cub Scout Pack 217. Over the past 5 years, he acquired great skills such as communication, organization, responsibility, leadership, and work with others to accomplish a common goal. Through holding positions as Quartermaster, Assistant Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, and Senior Patrol Leader, he improved himself physi­cally and mentally. He learned to love hiking, as one of the highlights was peaking Mount Whitney.

For Shiozaki’s Eagle Project, he supervised 50 volunteers in painting the west wall and the front of Faith United Meth­odist Church.

Beau Takagi
He is the son of Max and Nomel Takagi and is a senior at El Segundo High School. He was on the tennis team in high school. Outside of school activities included computers, game skills, tennis and swim teams, gardening, singing, playing 4 different instruments, and musical bands, which led to many awards.

He joined Troop 719 in the spring of 2001 and took on positions as Librarian, Assistant Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, and Senior Patrol Leader.

Amazing hiking experiences and incredible learning adventures in diverse subjects brought about the importance of teamwork and leadership. These challenges and opportunities gave Beau the realization of the wonderfully beautiful era of his ancestors and to reflect on the meaning of life and history. It also brought him closer to nature and his friends.

He will continue the scouting way of life as he pursues his college studies in the sciences, medical field, and guitar.

His Eagle Project was at the Japanese Cultural Institute in Gardena reorganizing the parking garage for cars and storage. He supervised volunteers in building shelving, sort relocate items, and stencil items with the JCI logo.

Brian Takao
The son of Jerry and Wendy Takao, Takao is attending Whittier Christian High School as a junior. His school sports include basketball and golf. At school he is also a member of the California Scholarship Federation. Sports outside of school are FOR basketball and Sansei baseball.

Takao joined Troop 719 because of its reputation of being well organized and having a very high percentage of scouts reaching Eagle Scout rank. He has held positions as Chaplain’s Aid, Librarian, Guide, Patrol Leader, and is currently Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. He expected to learn teamwork and leadership. What he didn’t expect was to peak Mount Whitney, climb to the top of Half Dome in Yosemite, and backpack on the island of Kauai.

His Eagle Project involved a 3-month period in which he met with various organizations to identify their items and decide which needed to be thrown away at the Japanese Cultural Institute (JCI). He also supervised volunteers in painting, the bottom of carnival games and building a container to store the games.