The process toward ‘Eagle’ success: Troop 15 trio
Seventeen-year-olds Ben Hebert, Isaiah Heroux and Baker Sandoval are but a few of these Eagles, members of Troop 15 sponsored by Virtue Presbyterian Church in Farragut, who’ve put in loads of time, energy and love into their Eagle Scout projects within the community.
Hebert, a senior at Knoxville Catholic High School, took to the benches of the neighborhood where he’s lived the past several years, Village Green, where he refinished four dilapidated benches and built a 36-square-foot patio and picnic table at one of its tennis courts.
“I did my Eagle project here in Village Green,” he said, “as a way of giving back to the community where I’ve lived the past five years. And I hope the new table and benches will be enjoyed by residents and visitors for generations to come.”
His parents, Andy and Liz Hebert, said, “Ben’s journey through scouting culminating in this service project to help our community has been highly rewarding.”
These Scouts have been together since their cub days back in first grade. One has wings that stretch back generations.
“Baker’s grandfather, dad, uncles and several cousins have all reached the rank of Eagle,” said Baker Sandoval’s parents, Dave and Tracy Sandoval, “so Baker has known that he wanted to earn his Eagle since he started in Cub Scouts.”
The Scout himself, a senior at Farragut High School, is building a practice wall for the school’s lacrosse and other local youth teams, which ought to be completed this fall.
“I chose my project because I wanted to give back to another important aspect of my life,” he said, especially given he started playing lacrosse in the second grade.
Isaiah Heroux, another senior at FHS, decided to focus on the school’s Marching Admirals band, building a drum cabinet and awards board to help organize the equipment that helps bring home the bling and prominently display both. “I chose to help the band because I really enjoy music and the program at FHS, and I wanted to give back,” he said.
“We are proud of Isaiah for continuing his journey through scouts and hope his contributions to the community are valuable for many years to come,” said his parents, Luke and Jennifer Heroux.
Ben Hebert said he’s “stuck with Scouts because it has allowed me to lead my own path to success while providing me with tons of support from others, including my fellow Scouts, troop leaders and amazing community members I’ve met along with way.”
Planning to study nuclear engineering at the University of Tennessee after graduation, Baker Sandoval added, “I originally got into Scouts because of my family’s encouragement to take part in something where I could learn some really important life lessons and better myself.”
With his sights on attending college for music performance and production, Isaiah Heroux said of his experience, “As a young kid, Scouts sounded fun, and I met a group of friends that have stuck together through the whole program.”
His parents said Isaiah and his colleagues “helped the community through Eagle projects and several other community service events through the years and are excellent and supportive of each other, keeping each other interested and accountable to meet their goals.”
These Eagle Scouts also have a community of friendship and support to help keep them flying high as they progress.
In the words of Hebert neighbor Ann Ham of Village Green, “We need to do so much today to let people know that we have a lot of good kids coming along.”
