Stephen Wirthlin, Nathanial Sparks and William Barlow were honored for achieving their Eagle Scout awards at the October 14, 2006 Court of  Honor at the Sand Canyon building of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.   Their Eagle projects included a blood drive right after Hurricane Katrina, a food bank drive and creating dental care packages for under privileged children.   Eagle Scouts must complete at least 21 merit badges, actively participate in scouting including leadership as well as complete an extensive service project which involves others and generally includes 100 hours of volunteer work.

The honor of Eagle Scout is one that comes to only about 5% of all boy scouts and it is considered  the groups higest achievment.  The boys took their places in the prestegious "Eagles Nest"; a group of previous Eagle Scout members.

The featured speaker was Richard Wirthlin, a longtime pollster and Reagan strategist and author of the Book The Greatest Communicator, which chronicles his many experiences with President Reagan. Of Mr. Wirthlin, President Regan once said “Dick Wirthlin is the best in the business…..when he speaks, I listen.”

Canyon High School football coach Harry Welch was also in attendance, as Stephen and Nathanial play on the varsity team.

Stephen Wirthlin, the second Eagle Scout in his family, is a talented athlete and prominent football player for Canyon High School.  Not a one-sport athlete, his versatility is demonstrated by his excellence in soccer, basketball, baseball and track and field.  He  varsity lettered last year as a Sophomore as a wide receiver and defensive back for the 2005 CIF Champion Canyon High School Cowboys football team.  He has earned MVP awards in Football, Basketball, Track& Field (as a sprinter) and many championship medals.  Off the competitive sports field, he enjoys snowboarding and riding dirt motorcycles.  He is in his third year as an ASB officer at Canyon High.  Stephen’s family moved to when he was five years old and the family returned when he was nine enabling him to experience many cultures and languages. 

He was an active member of the Cub Scouts in Russia and played soccer in AYSO’s first international soccer region where he played with Russian, English, German, French, Scandinavian and other players from around Europe and the world. He plans to attend BYU until he is 19 at which time he plans to serve a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Nate Sparks, the third Eagle Scout in his family, also plays football for Canyon High School.  He is a Sophomore class officer at Canyon High School.  He is also a talented athlete who enjoys soccer and all other sports.  Nate has played 11 years of soccer, 4 years of football, 7 years of Canyon Country Little League and two years of track and field.  His first year at Canyon he lettered in Freshman and JV football. Currently he is the kicker on the Junior Varsity Football Team and will be the Goal Keeper on the Soccer team. 

He loves to travel and has visited ten countries in Europe and hopes to visit Hong Kong and this year.  Nate completed an outstanding 41 merit badges thus far and plans to continue earning palms, awards given to those earning merit badges beyond their Eagle Scout.  He also plans to attend BYU until he is 19 when he plans to serve a mission for the Church.Bill Barlow, a senior at Flintridge Preparatory School, has recently been nominated as a National Merit Finalist and is currently an AP Scholar with Distinction.  He is Captain of his school’s Debate team and took first place in the Southern District’s state qualifier Public Forum event, eventually taking 8^th in the State tournament.  He is also President of Strategic Games Club, President of the Young Republican Club, and a Captain of the League Champion Cross Country team.  A contributor to Flintridge Prep’s school newspaper, he enjoys provoking debates on issues of public interest from different points of view. 

He has a passion for history, particularly European History and wars of all kinds.  At Flintridge Prep he serves as the senior advisor to the European AP History class and will be teaching a few segments this year and serving as a tutor/mentor to those taking the class.  He has enjoyed chess since he was four years old to which he credits Jay Stallings at the California Youth Chess League.  He is currently finishing his first novel that has themes involving the issues of the clash of ideas and freedom of thought versus a world without conflict.   Bill has not yet decided on his final destination for college but has narrowed the choices down to fifteen.  He plans to major in History, Government and/or English and then go on to law school.    When he turns nineteen, he also plans to serve a full time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.