Tala Atoafa earns Eagle Scout award

MEEKER I Tala Jade Atoafa Jr., was presented with the Eagle Scout award, which is Scouting’s highest honor at an Eagle Scout Court of Honor held Saturday, Feb. 23 at the Meeker Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Atoafa is a member of Boy Scout Troop 190 and Venturing Crew 190 sponsored by the Meeker LDS Church. He previously earned the Cub Scout Arrow of Light award and was a member of a Boy Scout troop in Huntington Beach, Calif., where he earned the Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class ranks. His older brother, Alema, received the Eagle Scout Award in Meeker in 2010.
Atoafa selected an Eagle Scout project in March 2012 (a required major community service project planned, organized and conducted by Atoafa) to benefit the Meeker Food Bank at the United Methodist Church directed by Vicky Johnson. Recognizing the many needs of the food bank, Atoafa recruited 55 other Scouts and additional volunteers and fundraised to build and finish doors and walls and expand shelving for storage. Local businesses donated materials for building and finishing the project. Following the facility upgrade, he coordinated a “Scouting for Food” collection drive to replace depleted food stocks at the food bank. More than 221 volunteer hours were spent on the project to benefit the food bank and provide for families in the Meeker area.
Some of Atoafa’s most meaningful experiences in his Scouting career include earning the astronomy merit badge and his experiences with astronomers and counselors in learning about the galaxies and solar system. In his opinion, Scouting has given him great opportunities to bond with family and friends through challenging activities.
Atoafa has demonstrated exceptional performing arts talent and joined the Meeker High School Drama Club in 2010. He is an honor thespian of the International Thespian Society Troupe 1284. He served on the technical crew for lighting at the 2010 musical production of “Little Shop of Horrors,” then joined the cast of 2011’s “Grease” as rock star singer Johnny Casino. Atoafa performed well in a lead role as Seaweed in 2012’s “Hair Spray,” and will perform the lead male role of Jimmie in “Thoroughly Modern Millie” to be presented in late May. He has lettered in varsity football, basketball and track, and is an outstanding scholar and member of the National Honor Society at Meeker High School.
He plans to attend the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley and will become a high school mathematics teacher. He plans to use his charismatic and enthusiastic abilities to inspire students to high achievements, and to continue his exceptional abilities in teaching and participating in the performing arts, singing and dancing.
Atoafa is the son of Foifua and Talaoso Atoafa. The family moved to Meeker in 2010. In the program’s biographical sketch, Atoafa’s parents wrote “ . . . Tala was nicknamed Jay and grew up in the beach city of Huntington Beach. He was a beach boy all the way, had long blonde hair and loved the outdoors. He joined all kinds of activities and excelled at all. Football was the best. Dancing he was the best. School politics he was the best and no one can campaign for a cause as good as Jay. He is very passionate about his causes and if he feels he is right he will not let go. As his Mom, I supported whole hearted anything he set off to do, knowing in my heart that he can and will be good at it . . . “ In closing, the Atoafas wrote “ . . . Congratulations Tala Jade Atoafa Jr., for receiving your Eagle Scout tonight. Now put on your wings and soar. The sky is not the limit. You can go far and beyond your dreams, just remember to seek the knowledge of God first and everything else will fall in place. We love you and are very proud of you . . . “
Atoafa wishes to express his sincere appreciation to his Scoutmaster, Brandon Sanders, and his former Scoutmasters in California. He also is appreciative of his teachers and coaches, especially Clark Kindler and John Strate, and his family and friends for encouragement and support throughout his Scouting and school career.
Atoafa is the 20th Eagle Scout in Meeker to receive his award since the first Meeker Eagle Scout award was presented to Phillip Pratt in 1948. He joins his friend Collin Cochran and his brother Alema as Eagle Scouts. Less than five percent of all Scouts earn the Eagle Scout Award.
More than two million young men have earned the Eagle Scout award since Scouting’s founding more than 100 years ago. Among those Eagle Scouts are many famous individuals such as astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man to reach the moon, corporation chief executives, physicians, lawyers, professors and college presidents, congressmen and senators, former U.S. president Gerald Ford, military generals and admirals, as well as many other distinguished professionals and outstanding citizens. There is no such thing as a “former Eagle Scout…Once an Eagle Scout, Always an Eagle Scout…it is a way of life.”
Being an Eagle Scout opens many doors for college admission applications, and careers as it is well known as a credential for outstanding leadership abilities and citizenship. The Western Colorado Council, Boy Scouts of America and the Meeker community extend sincere congratulations to Tala Atoafa on this outstanding achievement.