Scout builds back-to-school picnic tables

Ramona High School students will find three new Bulldog blue picnic tables at the school when they start the new school year on Monday, thanks to incoming freshman Mason Pierce, who built the tables for his Eagle Scout project.

“They’ll be a nice addition to the lunch area,” said Principal Tony Newman. “We’re thrilled to have them. Seating’s always an issue. There will be students happy to be sitting at these tables.”

Pierce, a member of Ramona Boy Scout Troop No. 631 and son of Aron and Mike Pierce, chose picnic tables as his Eagle Scout project after asking Newman for suggestions. Eagle Scout is the highest rank a Boy Scout can achieve.

“I would like to thank everybody who helped with my Eagle Scout Project,” he said after the tables were delivered to the school on Saturday morning.

With him at the school were his father, his brother Austin, Newman, Mark Caldwell and Chris Ahlgren. Caldwell designed the tables and Ahlgren helped build them. As a prospective Eagle Scout, it was Mason’s job to plan and manage the project, seeking the help of others.

“I would like to thank all of these individuals for helping me build the three picnic tables for the High School,” said Mason. “Thank you, Chris Ahlgren, Mark Caldwell, Robert Nickel (Scoutmaster) Braidy Sommer (Scoutmaster for the 11-year-old Scouts), Gabe Cabrera, Austin Pierce, Nicholas Doucharme, Matthew Wallace, Joshua Hancock, Jonathan Hancock, and Braiden Sommer.

“I would also like to thank Lowe’s of Santee, Ace Hardware of Ramona, Economizers of Ramona and Terry Caldwell (his grandfather) for their generous donations of the materials.”

Mason also thanked Newman for giving him the opportunity to build the picnic tables and Scout counselor Rob Wallace for working with him throughout the project.