February 11, 2019
By: Bill Conger
Bill Conger
Another member of Smithville Boy Scout Troop 347 has graduated to the rank of Eagle Scout. Will Stephens, the son of Doug and Beth Stephens officially received Scouting’s highest honor during a recent ceremony at the DeKalb County Community Complex.
Stephens says the achievement means a lot to him.
“It prepares you for real life situations, so if something was to happen you’ll know what to do,” Stephens said following the ceremony. “You know how to organize people to help them get what they need done. It helps with a lot of careers and college applications because they’ll notice there’s something different about you because scouting does make you different. It makes you a better person. It makes you a leader in the community. They see that. It would help me in the long run to further my education and well-being in life.”
As part of his journey to Eagle, Stephens had to perform a service project from initiation to completion including fundraising, gathering supplies and organizing helpers. After talking with Mayor Tim Stribling, Stephens decided to construct benches for the county complex.
“I asked him what does the community need, and I obviously told him a few ideas I had. He said, ‘Well, now that you mention it, I think the community center does need benches. My original idea was to make it out of wood and paint it. Then, as I was looking into it, I asked him if it would be better to use composite wood. It’s recycled wood, so it’s better for the environment, and it’ll stay here longer. It’s not as easy to vandalize. He thought that was an awesome idea. The mayor was a very critical role. He worked very well with me and my project, and I really appreciated that.”
Stephens also earned a variety of merit badges Camping, Swimming, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, and Citizenship in the World, Cooking, Environmental Science, First Aid, Emergency Preparedness, Family Life, Personal Fitness, Communications, Personal Management, and Hiking. Stephens also earned the World Conservation Award, and his peers chose him for the Order of the Arrow, a service organization for higher ranked Scouts.
Stephens started as a Cub Scout with Den 8 under Eric Birmingham’s leadership.
“It feels like just a few weeks ago I was putting paint on my Pinewood Derby cars and running them,” Stephens said. “Then, whenever I transitioned to Boy Scouts, it changed the whole thing from being leader organized to Scout organized, where we do the leading. We do all the stuff. It took me back from seeing what I used to be to what I am now.”