Bevington earns Eagle Scout award

West County Middle School student Luke Bevington recently earned his Eagle Scout award. Bevington was awarded this honor during a special Court of Honor recognition ceremony at West County Middle School this past fall. Bevington was one of only 14 boys to receive this award in the Ozark Trailblazers District for 2011.  Local Boy Scout Troop #967 can now proudly say they have had one of its own earn this prestigious award.

Bevington, an eighth grade student at West County, earned this award by completing at least 21 required merit badges (more than 100 are possible); planning and presenting an Eagle project to the local Eagle Board of Review; and implementing and supervising the project once it was accepted and passed by the Eagle board.  Once his project was completed, the Eagle Board of Review approved the project. His Scout Master turned all of the required paperwork into the Greater St. Louis Area Council, which then forwarded it to the national level of Boy Scouts for them to officially acknowledge Bevington as an Eagle Scout.

Bevington’s Eagle Court of Honor was presented by Boy Scout Troop #967.  The ceremony had several guest speakers including John Helbig, who officially presented Bevington with his Eagle award; Ron Rouggly, an Eagle board member; Donnie Jones, District Events Committee member; and Greg Rudroff, District Training Committee member.  Bevington’s Court of Honor occurred on Sept. 17 at West County Middle School.  This special ceremony, the Court of Honor, is the official presentation of the Scout’s Eagle award.

Thirteen-year-old Bevington is the son of Ron and Debbie Bevington of Leadwood.  He and his parents planned the memorable event, along with help from local troop members and leaders. Greg Mills, assistant scout master at the time for Troop #967, said the Eagle ceremony is very important.  “Becoming an Eagle Scout in a Boy Scout’s life is as important as high school graduation and even his wedding day.”  Mills further explained that it takes a lot of hard work to attain the rank of Eagle Scout.  “Any boy who rises to this challenge deserves the respect and admiration of all those around him.”

Levi Mills is a seventh grader at West County Middle School.  He is currently working on earning the Eagle Scout award. As part of the requirements to earn this prestigious award, he chose to complete the Journalism Badge.  To earn that badge, he completed this article for the Daily Journal and also his school newspaper, Stuck in the Middle, of which he is a member and serves as assistant editor.