AREA BENEFITS FROM 4 EAGLE SCOUT PROJECTS.

Byline: Karen Thacker Community Columnist

Four young men added the rank of Eagle Scout to their resumes.

Paul Foster, Tom and Kevin Powell, and John Pulsipher were all acknowledged in a Court of Honor ceremony June 25 recognizing their achievements.

The community benefited well this past year from the Eagle Scout service projects, which included a clothing drive for senior citizens, a fix-up project at Antelope Valley's domestic violence shelter and signs and bulletin boards for the Angeles National Forest.

The four are members of Boy Scout Troop 270, hosted by Leona Valley Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Foster, 14, earned all his merit badges and attained Eagle Scout, however, while a member of Troop 331, hosted by Palmdale Fifth Ward. He gathered 33 merit badges and recently attended Camp Whitsett near Lake Isabella for a weeklong Scouting adventure.

For his Eagle project, he organized an effort to handle and distribute an overload of clothing donations at the Senior Citizens Thrift Store. He and other Scouts sorted clothes, hung up those that could be used by the thrift store and boxed the rest.

The boxed clothing went to other charitable organizations, including Catholic Charities, Desert Industries, Grace Resources and the Lancaster Homeless Shelter.

Foster recently graduated from Hillview Middle School, where he took part in the school band and played senior league baseball.

He is the son of Paul and Vi Ann Foster of Quartz Hill.

Tom Powell, 16, went outdoors for his Eagle project. He constructed a new bulletin board for the U.S. Forest Service at the Angeles National Forest's Oak Flats Campground. The Forest Service provided materials and he put together and installed two 4-by-4-foot signs providing campground information and rules. He also tore out the previous sign, which was aging and too small.

Tom gathered 24 merit badges before his Eagle project.

He recently finished his sophomore year at Highland High School, where he played the bass drum in the school band and played football his freshman year.

Tom is the son of Guy and Renae Powell of Lake Elizabeth.

Tom's brother Kevin Powell, 15, just finished his freshman year at Highland High School. He played the violin in the orchestra and was a member of the school math and science teams.

He earned one more than the required 21 merit badges to receive his Eagle and plans to continue with Scouting, earning more merit badges and receiving additional Palm Awards.

For his Eagle service project, Kevin constructed six road signs near the entrance of Oak Flats Campground. He used a router to carve the letters and painted them white. The campground previously only had one worn-out sign.

Pulsipher, 16, says Scouting has given him some good experiences through earning badges and attending Scout camps.

``You learn to do things that will help you in life,'' he said.

He's earned 26 merit badges so far and aided the Valley Oasis Domestic Violence Shelter for his Eagle project.

When he called the shelter, they had a list of ideas, and he went to work with fellow Scouts. They knocked down a 25-foot brick wall that needed to be removed and poured a concrete slab. They also put in 30 plants donated by Greener Gardens Nursery and Home Depot.

John, a Lancaster High School senior this fall, is on the wrestling team and a California Scholarship Federation member.

He is the son of Douglas and Sally Pulsipher of Leona Valley.

Karen Thacker lives in Lancaster and writes on issues of interest throughout the Antelope Valley. Write her in care of the Daily News, 1060 E. Palmdale Blvd., Suite 104, Palmdale, CA 93550.