Chris Sutherland’s Eagle Project was performed at the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center located at 2020 Clean Water Dr. Buford, GA 30519 where he created a bluebird habitat. He researched the issues facing the Eastern Bluebird which is losing its natural habitat with the continued development in this area. He consulted with the Horticultural Dept at Gwinnett Tech over several weeks to come up with a list of plants that would be native to Georgia, thrive in the area in which he was planning to plant them and also be a draw to the Eastern Bluebird. Dr. Ludwig, of Gwinnett Tech’s Horticultural Dept., was particularly helpful and supportive of the Scouting program. Chris raised over $800 and purchased trees and shrubs that would attract/feed the Eastern Bluebird throughout each season and entice them to this area. He organized work days to implement digging/planting/mulching of the foliage. In addition to the plants, he also installed, throughout the general vicinity, bluebird houses that were donated by students from Gwinnett Tech’s Horticultural dept. Chris built and posted a sign that gave an overall description of the bluebird dilemma, described the shrubs/trees he had planted, the bluebird houses that were posted and suggested additional sources of information to the reader. His Eagle project involved 25 planning hours and 135 work hours for a combined total of 160 hours. His achievement to Eagle Scout will be recognized at a ceremony in February.
David Alan Craft of Suwanee, GA Boy Scout Troop 575 acquired the rank of Eagle Scout on September 29th, 2007. Over his scouting career David earned over 21 merit badges. For his project he chose to build seven Adirondack benches for the First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceville’s Campground. David is a senior at Collins Hill High School and plans to attend college after graduation.
Nicholas Baxter Pouncey of Troop 501 at McKendree United Methodist Church in Lawrenceville, GA received his Eagle Scout rank on November 17, 2007. Nicholas is the son of Melanie & Jon Pouncey of Lawrenceville, GA and the grandson of Melba M. Christie of Paragould, AR and Mrs. G. B. Pouncey of Memphis, TN. He is a sophomore at Collins Hill High School.
Nick’s project consisted of buiding six wood duck boxes and four trash receptacles and installing them at the Mill Creek Nature Center which is a part of the Georgia Wildlife Federation. The duck boxes will help to raise local populations and ensure that visitors to the area can enjoy these interesting creatures. The trash receptacles will enforce the scout’s “leave no trace rule” and will aid in keeping the new area clean for all to enjoy. It took seven work days and over 209 hours to complete.
Nick has been Troop 501 Historian, Quartermaster, Patrol Leader, Assistant Patrol Leader, Scribe, Order of the Arrow Representative, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, and is currently the Senior Patrol Leader. He has earned 30 merit badges. Nick currently attends Collins Hill High School where he punts for the Eagles football team. He has also started his own internet business, Pyro-Mortars.com.
Brandon Clay of Troop 566 which is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, earned his Eagle Scout award on Oct 27, 2007. Brandon is the son of Kent and Terilyn Clay of Snellville, Georgia. He is in the 11th grade at Brookwood High School.
Brandon’s project involved supervising and building 50 artificial fish habitats for Fort Yargo State Park’s lake. The habitats were dropped into the lake at Fort Yargo to help boost the fish population and cut down on expenses for the park. Thanks to Cofer Adams and the numerous friends and family members who helped donate materials and work hours toward this Eagle project. Over 20 volunteers and nearly 110 hours of work made the project a success.
Brandon has earned 30 total merit badges and has served as his troop’s Senior Patrol Leader and Scribe.
Last month Boy Scout Troop 554, First Baptist Church of Lawrenceville, honored T. Ryan Schumacher with an Eagle Scout Court of Honor, where he was awarded the Boy Scouts of America’s highest achievement, Eagle Scout. Less than two percent of all entering scouts achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.
Ryan, a recent graduate of Central Gwinnett High School, where he was a six Varsity letter winner in Cross Country and Wrestling, spoke of the dedication of the parents and leaders of Troop 554 in his acceptance speech. He mentioned how great it was to have inspiring leaders show the way for young Scouts to grow and prosper so they become leaders in their own right and pass on those leadership skills to upcoming scouts. He honored his Grandfather, Ted Boyd, of Lawrenceville with his Mentor badge.
Deacon Nick Johnson of Lawrenceville Catholic Church spoke on behalf of Ryan and spoke of Ryan’s character and how he’d seen him grow from a young boy into fine man. A reception was held after the ceremony.
Ryan will be attending Full Sail College in Winter Garden, Florida, in January. He will study for a Bachelor of Science degree in Video Game Programming.
Also honored were Eagle Scouts Brett Blalock and Luke Griffin, also of Troop 554.
