Eagle project spruces up community center

By Crystal Garcia
The Tribune-Star

WEST TERRE HAUTE May 17, 2008 10:41 pm

— Matt Collier wasn’t good at telling people what to do until it meant the difference between becoming an Eagle Scout and not becoming one.
Collier, 16, and a handful of others worked Saturday to beautify the east side of the West Terre Haute Community Center and fix a draining problem that had been plaguing the building for some time.
“It’s a really old building, and water was getting under the building so I decided to make a flower/shrub bed and move all the guttering from under here,” Collier said as he pointed to the project.
A freshman at Terre Haute South Vigo High School, Collier has been in the Scout program since he was 11. To become an Eagle Scout, he had to progress through the ranks of Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, 1st Class, Star and Life by passing tests and earning the necessary number of merit badges.
“It means a lot of things,” Collier said about the project. “It’s helping us learn teamwork, it’s bonding us together a little more, it helps the West Terre Haute community.”
Of 120 merit badges available, 21 must be earned to qualify, including the required 12 badges of first aid, citizenship in the community, citizenship in the nation, citizenship in the world, communications, environmental science, personal fitness, personal management, camping, family life, and must choose between emergency preparedness and lifesaving, as well as cycling, hiking or swimming, according to the Boy Scouts of America’s Web site.
Last, one of the final requirements to become an Eagle Scout is supervising a community service project. The Scout must compose three proposals to present to the board, which selects the best project for the Scout to complete.
Once the project is selected, it is the Scout’s responsibility to collect donations for materials and organize a team to complete the project as he supervises.
Collier said he chose the community center because it’s a nice place for children to play and they have a friendly staff. Collier also urged future Eagle Scouts to turn to the West Terre Haute Community Center if they are looking for a project to complete.
His project was the second Eagle Scout project done at the Community Center that executive director Teresa Herrington could recall, but she said they definitely welcome more projects at the center.
Herrington liked Collier’s project because not only was it going to improve the building’s image, but also would help structurally because moving the drains would stop water from getting inside, she said.
She also liked how it’s more than a one-time project because it’s going to give the children an opportunity for annual planting, Herrington said.
As a boss, Collier was kind and firm, but gentle, said fellow Troop 504 Scout O’Dale Johnson, 18.
“I wanted to help because working’s good for the soul and because he’s my fellow Scout,” Johnson said. “And, I’ve been here before and it’s a pretty good place and I wanted to help out.”
Johnson said it’s been pretty good being a Scout with Collier because he’s hardworking and fun.
“I think it’s going to pay off lots of hard work,” he said about the project, “and it’s going to look good afterward and it’s going to be of good quality.”
Had it not been for Scouts, Collier’s mother Karen Collier was convinced he wouldn’t be the same person. Having lost his father at 11, Scouts has helped him grow, she said.
“It’s kept him focused in the right direction, he’s learned discipline and respect,” she said, noting it also helped him overcome shyness. “It’s just made him the kid he is today. His dad would be proud.”

Crystal Garcia can be reached at (812) 231-4271 or crystal.garcia@tribstar.com.

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