Five Scouts recognized for attaining Eagle rank

• Published: Jun 29, 2009 - Page: 6D

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Today The Advocate recognizes four Boy Scouts who earned their Eagle rank recently and another who earned his last year.

Less than 2 percent of Scouts in the United States earn the Eagle award. Scouts advance to Eagle by earning 21 merit badges, of which 12 — on such topics as finance, family life, law, astronomy, chemistry and nature — are mandatory to become an Eagle. A Scout must organize an Eagle service project that demonstrates leadership skills.

Mason Lea
High School:  Walker High
Grade: 12
Troop: 58
Sponsor: Live Oak United Methodist Church
Scout leader: John J. Barnes Jr.
Eagle project: Collected more than 1,500 nonperishable food items and $200 cash for the Live Oak United Methodist Church food bank
Extracurricular: Five-time member of the Livingston Parish Honor Band, 2008 member of the Arkansas-Louisiana-Texas Honor Band and 2009 member of the All South Honor Band
Parents: Gil and Diane Lea

Vernon “Buck” Johnson III
High School: Live Oak High School
Grade: 12
Troop: 58
Sponsor: Live Oak United Methodist Church
Scout leader: John J. Barnes Jr.
Eagle project: Painted and cleaned the weight room at Live Oak High School
Extracurricular: All District honorable mention football, wrestling and track
Parents: Skipper and Tracye Johnson

David Bell
High School: Live Oak High
Grade: 12
Troop: 58
Sponsor: Live Oak United Methodist Church
Scout leader: John J. Barnes Jr.
Eagle project: Collected more than 1,000 food items to restock food bank after Hurricane Gustav
Extracurricular: Football and basketball
Parents: Dan Bell and Sue Breton

Andrew Barnes
High School: Live Oak High School
Grade: 11
Troop: 58
Sponsor: Live Oak United Methodist Church
Scout leader: John J. Barnes Jr.
Eagle project: Installed automatic lighting at a community and church playground
Extracurricular: soccer, church
Parents: John J. and Lisa Barnes

Kyle May
High School: St. Michael the Archangel High School
Grade: Graduate
Troop: 136
Sponsor: St. George Catholic Church
Scout leader: Peter Davidson
Eagle project: Designed a walkway to the labyrinth at St. George Catholic Church and built it with donated materials and volunteer labor.
Extracurricular: Received Warrior Sword Award, Servant Leadership Award, Exchange Club Youth of the Month and an Academic All Star in Cross Country
Parents: Oren and Cathie May