Rise Like an Eagle

Soon Austin Phelps, of Ohio County, could have something in common with Hank Aaron, Neil Armstrong, Gerald Ford and Sam Walton. He will become an Eagle Scout.

Last weekend Austin filled 150 backpacks as his project to earn his Eagle Scout rank. The backpacks contain items such as blankets, personal hygiene items, a toy, an activity book, crayons, pens and pencils to be given to children as they enter foster care.

Phelps, 17, said he got the idea from his mother who works for the Department of Community Based Services in Owensboro and from hearing stories from some of his friends who are in the foster care system.

“I’ve heard stories they have told and it is heartbreaking to hear of little kids getting taken into foster care with just the clothes on their backs,” he said.

In order to become an Eagle Scout, one must progress through the scouting ranks, earn 21 merit badges, serve in a troop leadership position while a Life Scout and demonstrate scout spirit within their troops combined as well as other accomplishments throughout their scouting career.

According to the Boy Scouts of America, since its inception in

1911, only 4% of scouts have earned the rank.

“It is a very prestigious honor that only a handful of scouts achieve,” Austin said.

Austin said he could not have completed the project without the help of others including other Boy Scouts who helped put the items in the backpacks on March 4. Part of the supplies were purchased with funds raised from selling camp discount cards. Over $4,000 worth of supplies were given to Austin for his project during a donation drive at Walmart. A Girl Scout from Owensboro also donated blankets to the project that were part of a service project she had assisted with.

In order to attain the rank, scouts must plan, develop and lead a service project that demonstrates leadership and a commitment to duty. The project, Phelps said, had to be something that would benefit the community and be sustainable. He had a couple of other projects rejected before he settled on this project. In order to keep this project sustainable, Cub Scout Troop 273 in Ohio County has agreed to use this project as their service project and will strive to replenish at least 25 backpacks a year. Now that Austin has completed all the requirements, he must complete an Eagle Scout board of review.

Now a junior at Ohio County High School, Austin has been involved in scouting since starting as a Tiger Cub in first grade.

“My dad and my uncles were both in scouts. I have a heritage in it and it is just a great program that has benefited a lot of people,” Austin said. “Eagle Scout is a brotherhood. Anyone who has earned the rank of Eagle Scout, you have a connection with them because you both put the time and the effort in and were found worthy by the eagle board to achieve the rank of Eagle.”