by Brenda Hunt
On March 29, 2025, the last four local Scouts from Carson City’s Troop 16 celebrated achieving their Eagle Scout status in front of 100 friends, family and dignitaries in Chartz Hall at St. Teresa of Avila Church.
Owen Hickenbottom, Nikolaus Dzyak, Thomas Cook and Ryder Kiel were presented their Eagle Scout certificates, badges and medals to culminate nearly a decade of hard work and dedication.
During the ceremony each Scout spoke about his favorite time during scouting and his Eagle Scout project.
The Honorable P.K. O’Neill, Nevada State Assemblymember and the Honorable Lori Bagwell, Mayor of Carson City, each spoke providing congratulations and encouragement for the Scout’s next steps in life.
One of the defining aspects of gaining Eagle Scout status is completing your community project.
These Eagle Scout projects were located at Washoe Lake State Park and Genoa Cemetery.
Each required the Scouts to work with the landowners to seek permissions, and determine each project’s location, design, material quantities/costs, necessary construction tools and equipment, schedule and labor needed.
Recruiting labor from fellow scouts, family and friends was essential to ensure completion of each project.
Hickenbottom, Cook and Kiel completed three phases of improvements at Washoe Lake State Park’s south end wildlife viewing platform.
After discussing the project with the rangers at Washoe State Park, Hickenbottom lead the first phase of the project focusing on the viewing platform.
Hickenbottom organized the resurfacing of the splintering wood deck and railings, removal of the old interpretive signs, rebuilding of the stairs and staining of the outside of the platform.
Cook took on the second phase which involved placing interpretive signage along the trails and revising the existing interpretive kiosk.
The interpretive signage required concrete footings to be dug and poured for each sign placement in order to ensure the wild horses known to frequent the site, wouldn’t push them over when using them as scratching posts.
Framing was also constructed in which interpretive panels were placed.
Kiel completed phase three, building and installing three park benches along the trails, and installing bear proof trash cans near the trail entrance.
The park benches and trash cans also required concrete footings and pads to be dug and poured, and chains to be placed for longevity.
Historic Genoa Cemetery Revitalization
Dzyak completed a beautification project at the historic Genoa Cemetery.
His project consisted of clearing brush around the originator of the Genoa Candy Dance, Lillian Virgin Finnegan’s gravesite, revitalizing landscaping damaged during the 2017 flood, and repainting one of the caretaker’s sheds.
Thank you Nevada State Parks and Genoa Cemetery for working with the Scouts to design their projects, and for purchasing the materials needed to complete the work.
We invite everyone in the community to go out and enjoy the projects completed by these Scouts.
Congratulations Owen, Nik, Hank and Ryder for a job well done. Your hard work and dedication will continue to serve you throughout your lives. Thank you!
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