2009 College Grant Award Winner

Congratulations Cody!

GPPA Awards Annual Grant to Cody Williams

          Cody Williams, a graduating senior from Cactus Shadows High School, is the 2009 recipient of GPPA's college grant of $1,000. GPPA makes the award annually to a high school student who is enrolled and accepted for college in the coming spring. Cody will be attending Northern Arizona State University.

          Entrants are evaluated based on past performance and future potential, with particular focus on activities demonstrating a commitment to desert preservation, wildlife conservation, and the protection of quality of life in our community. A 2.5 grade point average or higher is required.

          GPPA's award committee headed by Ken Melnick and Horst Berkner, had a difficult time choosing from the outstanding group of applicants. Congratulations on your upcoming graduations and keep up the good work for your community.

Application Statement

By Cody P. Williams

As an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America I have been involved in desert and wildlife preservation of the beautiful Sonoran desert for all of the nine years that I have been a member of the Boy Scouts.

As a part of my Eagle Scout project, I enclosed, painted, and refurbished a storage room at the Wild At Heart raptor rehabilitation center in Cave Creek. I also laid a concrete that provided a stable surface for the volunteers to work and care for the numerous birds that are housed there. My project benefited wildlife conservation by providing updated facilities for the volunteers, who, in turn, could nurse the birds back to health so they could eventually be reintroduced back into the wild. The enclosing of the storage room also prevented the owls and hawks from escaping into adjacent aviaries. My project also created additional space to house the birds, which increased Wild At Heart's capacity to shelter and care for sick and injured birds of prey. Finally, my Eagle project provided much needed storage space for all the tools and equipment used to maintain the property and clean the aviaries.

Prior to completing my Eagle Scout project at Wild At Heart, I was a volunteer for four years. My responsibilities during this time included cleaning and maintaining the sanctuary and the bird pens, cleaning the incubators and cages in the hospital, and watering the vegetation on the property. As part of other Eagle Scout projects, I have continued to protect the Sonoran Desert though maintenance and restoration of hiking trails at Spur Cross and Pinnacle Peak Preserves. I assisted in clearing the trails of overgrown vegetation, lining the trails with rocks, and installing new signs at the trailheads so that everyone is able to enjoy the beauty of our natural desert.

Community service and volunteer activities mostly in relation to the preservation of wildlife and helping alleviate the impact of humans have on the environment has always been an integral part of my life. I plan to continue remaining active in community and volunteer opportunities to protect the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert. I believe this makes me a strong candidate to receive the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association College Grant.

Leadership Positions

Den Chief - Boy Scouts of America: 9/8/04 - 8/16/06
Order of the Arrow Troop Representative: 9/15/05 - Present
Eagle Leadership Project, Boy Scouts of America, Wild at Heart: Completed January, 2006
Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America: Awarded, 10/19/06
Co Captain - ASUSC BIackhawks Soccer Club: June 2006 - May 2007
Arizona Heritage Project Member and Author: Aug. 20 - Present
Carefree Community Church - Teen Bible Camp Volunteer - May 2005 - Present
Quiznos, Responsible for opening and closing the establishment, training new employees on food handling, safety and policies and procedures for high quality product delivery: June, 2006 - Present
Carefree Physical Therapy: May 2008 - Present

Awards and Recognitions

Order of the Arrow, Boy Scouts of America: 9/15/05
Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America: 10/19/06
Principals Honor Roll: 2007
AIA Student Athlete Honor: 2007
National Assoc. of High School Scholars (Recognition): June 2008
1st Place Coyote Award Winner, Youth Poetry, Cave Creek Film and Arts Festival: July, 2007
4th Place Award Winner, Youth Short Story, Cave Creek Film and Arts Festival: July, 2008
Varsity Letter, Soccer, Cactus Shadows High School: 2006, 2007, 2009,
Region Champions: 2007,2008,2009 '
Varsity Letter, Cross Country, Cactus Shadows High School: 2007, 2008
Region Champions: 2007, 2008 State Runner Up
Junior Varsity letter, Track & Field: 2008
All Region 4A Division 1, Cross Country: Nov. 2008
All State 4A Division 1, Cross Country: Nov. 2008
Footlocker All West Team, Cross Country: Dec. 2008
Nomination - National Youth Leadership Forum - National Defense: 2008
Nomination - National Youth Leadership Forum - Medicine: 2009

Community Organizations:

Boy Scouts of America: 2002 - Present
Order of the Arrow - Wipala Wiki Lodge #432: Sept 2005 - Present
Eagle Scouts of America: Oct. 2006 - Present
National Association of High School Scholars: June 2008 - Present
National Eagle Scout Association: 2006 - Present
Carefree Community Church: 2002 - Present
Wild al Heart Volunteer and Eagle Project: 2002 - Present
Desert Broom Library Volunteer: 2004 - 2006
Hope Kids Volunteer: June 2006 - Present
Kick for Nick Volunteer: May 2008 - Aug 2008
***