Jonathan Riska, son of Joe and Melinda Riska of Lower Macungie Township, and grandson of Mary Riska of Palmerton, received the rank of Eagle Scout at a Court of Honor held Sept. 18, at St. Ann's Catholic Church, Emmaus. Riska is a member of Boy Scout Troop 131 from Bethany United Methodist Church, Wescosville.

Phil Nonemaker, past Scoutmaster of troop 131, presided over the event. Douglas G. Reichley, Pennsylvania state representative, delivered the Eagle Scout Charge and Monsignor John S. Mraz, pastor of St. Ann's, gave the invocation and benediction. Guest speaker was C. Richard Wilson, vice president relations, Minsi Trails Council. Special presentations were made by Reichley and U.S. Rep. Charles Dent.Riska also received an American flag that had been previously flown over the Capitol from U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter.Riska began his scouting career as a Tiger Cub with Pack 131 at Wescosville, advancing through the Cub Scout ranks to earn the Arrow of Light Award. As a Boy Scout, he earned 38 merit badges and a bronze and gold palm. Leadership positions include bugler, instructor, troop guide, and currently senior patrol leader for Troop 131. Riska is an Ordeal Member of the Order of the Arrow.He participated in two high adventures during his time in Scouts the Florida Sea Base Out Island Adventure in 2008 and the Florida Sea Base Coral Reef Sailing Adventure in 2010 and served as crew chief both times.He also participated in the Centennial Eagle Court of Honor at Provo, Utah in July 2010, in which he, along with 260 new Eagle Scouts from across the country, gathered to take part in the largest Eagle Court of Honor in history at Stadium of Fire at Lavell Edwards Stadium, Brigham Young University, Provo, to mark Scouting's 100th anniversary. The Eagle Charge was presented by Robert Mazzuca, chief scout executive.Riska's Eagle Scout leadership project was the design and installation of three new gardens at St. Ann's Church in Emmaus: two around a pair of signs that had recently been installed, and a third around a boulder adjacent to the parking lot. He also rejuvenated three existing gardens around the shrines of Jesus, Mary, and St. Joseph. He directed the activities of 21 people, who collectively volunteered 186 hours over four days to complete the project. Riska also personally spent 86 hours planning and working on the project, which took a combined total of 272 hours to complete.Other accomplishments Riska has include attending five summer camps; six years of scouting for food; five troop conservation projects; 78 nights of camping; 270 miles of cycling; leading the second place patrol at the 2010 Trexler District First Aid Meet; and accumulating over 350 service hours through scouting service events and volunteering at Allentown's Da Vinci Discovery Center, Toys for Tots, the annual book drive for the Emmaus Public Library, and at St. Ann's.Riska is a junior at Emmaus High School, where he is an honor roll student and plays trumpet in the Symphonic Band.