Matthew was a beloved Scout and Scouter.

He began his journey as a Tiger Cub and achieved the rank of Star Scout with 19 Merit Badges. Matt was also in The Order of the Arrow, the brotherhood of cheerful service, selected by his fellow Scouts.

Upon his passing, many men who had been his fellow Scouts summed up their feelings for Matt...”He was a brother”.

Matthew so appreciated what had been afforded him, he sought to give back to Scouting as a volunteer adult leader. He completed Scouting’s highest training achievement, Woodbadge.

He was an extremely popular Counselor for the Citizenship in the World Merit Badge.

The Atlanta Area Council International Committee invited Matt to serve as its youngest member. He was working to develop Scout exchange programs with other members of the World Organisation of Scouting Movement and had begun a program with the Bharat Scouts & Guides of India.

At the time of his passing Matt was about to receive his Bachelors Degree from Georgia State University, in Political Science and International Affairs and was an active member of the Model Arab League. He planned to continue his studies at Georgia State in the Masters Degree program in International and Comparative Politics. Matthew sought to serve our nation as a Foreign Service Officer with the United States Department of State.

Matt lived his life by the Scout Oath and Law. He was a fierce defender of those in the world who are oppressed and was driven to spend his life fighting for what is right.

While only 27, Matthew had achieved a great deal in his life. As a child he had been diagnosed with Aspergers, on battled successfully to overcome challenges throughout his life.

To best preserve Matthew’s memory, whenever we witness an injustice of any kind, we should ask ourselves “what would Matt say? What would Matt do?” And in so doing, we might make the world a better place.