Evan R.S. O’Brien earns the rank of Eagle Scout
Evan R. S. O'Brien, age 16, of Troop 500 in Lawrenceville Georgia was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout on April 26, 2008. Evan is the son of Susan and Bob O'Brien and is a student at Collins Hill High School. His troop is chartered through Central Christian Church.
For his Eagle project he supervised construction of six large picnic tables for one of the pavilions at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center in Buford, Georgia. The project took over 220 hours of volunteer work from Scouts and leaders from his Troop, friends and family. To finance his project, Evan conducted a Christmas tree pick up fundraiser and also gathered monetary donations.
Evan has earned 24 merit badges and held several positions of responsibility including Historian, Assistant Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader and was twice elected Senior Patrol Leader. He is currently serving as Troop Guide and is working toward his Bronze Eagle Palm. He was also a Den Chief for Cub Scout Pack 510 where he received the Den Chief Service Award. Evan plays snare on the drumline of the Collins Hill High School Screamin' Eagle Band and is a member of National Beta Club.
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.
