Dexter youth completes Eagle Scout project

Noreen Hyslop photo - Steven Harrellson, alongside his father, James, is busy laying the groundwork on his Eagle Scout project, an outdoor classroom at T.S. Hill Middle School. Steven is a freshman at Dexter High School this year, but wanted to give something back to the Middle School and so he chose and engineered the outside classroom as his Eagle project. It was completed last weekend and has already been utilized by the students

Fourteen year-old Steven Harrellson is one of those kids who restores one's faith in the youth of the country.

Steven is a model student and according to his parents, James and Bennetta, he is a model son as well. Few could argue with that, given the high school freshman's record of achievements thus far.

Currently, Steven is an honor roll student, a member of the DHS student council and the freshmen Cross Country Team. He plays, as well, in Dexter High School's marching band and the DHS Jazz Band. He was first chair All-District Tenor Saxophone and was first chair in Honors Band on the tenor sax while a student in Middle School. In his spare time, he has achieved the rank of red belt in Tae-Kwon-Do, under the direction of local martial arts expert, Ray Carrillo and qualified for Nationals in his division last year.

Although many of Steven's accomplishments over the past 15 years may be credited to the exemplary example of his parents, they, along with Steven, readily give additional credit to the local Scouting program, of which Steven has been a member since he was in the first grade.

It is that association that has brought Steven to the challenge at hand; that is, to join the highest-ranking individuals in the Scouting family, those who have earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Noreen Hyslop photo - The finished project of Steven Harrellson's shows a tranquil setting for outdoor activities at T.S. Hill Middle School.

The title of Eagle Scout is one that is "earned." It's not a title bestowed on a selection basis or by recommendation. The title is earned by effort and by proven ability and Steven Harrellson is in the process of proving himself worthy of the title.

The application for Eagle Scout is a lengthy one and includes the prerequisite of having earned a minimum of 32 merit badges in the tenure in Scouting. Ranging from Rifle and Rowing to Pioneering and Aviation, Steven has exceeded that prerequisite. Having bridged from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts in 2004, he has attended summer camps at Camp Lewallen, hiked on the Appalachian Trail and attended the National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT). He is a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow, a national honor society in Scouting, and a member of local Troop 200's Honor Guard, which recently presented the colors at the Marion, Illinois Miners opening day ceremony.

Besides being a model student, Harrellson is currently a Patrol Leader in Troop 200 and as served as assistant patrol leader, chaplain aid and publicity chairman for the troop. He has participated in the annual Scouting for Food program for the past eight years and has headed up a service project to obtain needed items, including medical supplies, for a medical mission in Honduras. To say that Steven Harrellson is an achiever is an understatement.

At the moment, though, Steven is awaiting word on his acceptance into the realm of Eagle Scouts, which is based upon his successful completion of his chosen project. The goal has been Steven's dream since early childhood and the coveted title is finally within reach.

It began months ago with a plan that was presented to a Scouting governing board. It included Steven's project description, along with a statement describing his life's purpose and his ambitions.

"I believe my life's purpose is to help people and to discover better and more efficient ways to perform everyday tasks," he stated in his project application, in which he also described his long-term goals and objectives and stated his goal of attaining a college degree in the field of engineering. The matter at hand, however, is the completion of his Eagle Scout project.

"I loved my time at T.S. Hill Middle School," Harrellson said, "and so I really wanted to do something to benefit that facility."

That "something" is an outdoor classroom. Stationed in a shaded area behind the Middle School facility, Harrellson has completed his project that consists of two eight-foot benches, two ten-foot benches and two twelve-foot benches, arranged in a Chevron pattern, with a teacher's bench at the helm. The precisely engineered "outdoor classroom" is strategically arranged under the shade of a collection of tall oak trees in the rear of Middle School. The ground under the "classroom" is covered with an absorbent netted material that is then covered with chat.

"I was fortunate to be able to work with several teachers at Middle School while preparing my proposal, in particular Mr. John Stephens, who was truly an asset," Steven explained. "I hope that this outdoor area will enrich the learning experience for students in almost all classes. Science classes at all levels will benefit by being able to conduct experiences in an outdoor climate, studying wildlife and exploring the geology of the earth and Social Studies classes can re-enact events in history in a natural outdoor environment. Literature and English students can read aloud outside and be inspired to write in outdoor surroundings. Fine Arts classes can also utilize the outdoor classroom to draw or have choir or band concerts."

The project was not a simple one. It required considerable planning by Steven and his mentor-dad, James Harrellson. Together, they utilized a modern Computer Aid Drawing (CAD) tool and presented a meticulously engineered proposal to both the Scouting board and Middle School Principal, Dr. Roger Alsup.

"When Steven asked about doing an Eagle Scout project for Middle School, we agreed that the outdoor classroom sounded like the perfect project," Alsup stated. "Our staff is thrilled to now have a place outside where they are able to conduct activities that lend themselves to the outdoors."

Although the project has been the plan of Steven's, he is quick to credit others for the help he's received along the way. Scoutmaster Robert Martin, Steven said, has been instrumental in his development as a Scout and the Harrellsons credit him with giving proper direction to their son throughout his years in the Scouting program.

"My dad has been my mentor throughout this project," Steven reported, "and a good friend of his, Gary Lindsey, who earned his Eagle over 30 years ago, also came to advise me and help with the project, so it's been a joint effort."

Harrellson also credited Dr. Alsup for his assistance in planning and implementing the project, along with local adult Scouters and members of Troop 200.

"I couldn't have completed this project without all of their help," he said.

With the Eagle project now complete, Steven has his sights set on further goals. Having participated in the National Youth Leadership Training recently, he learned all about the process of setting and achieving goals in a feasible manner.

"I learned about a system that's called SMART (Specifically, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely). The SMART system calls for ambitions to begin on a small scale and teaches how to build upon those goals, furthering your own expectations and setting higher goals as you proceed through life."

Keeping that theory in mind, the high school freshman wants initially to become first chair in the DHS band and to be admitted to the high school all-district band.

"Then, I really intend to earn the honor of becoming a black belt in the martial art of tae-kwon-do. I also hope to become the senior patrol leader in Troop 200."

Along the way, Harrellson hopes to maintain a grade point average at DHS that will earn him a scholarship to an engineering school. He has the University of Missouri at Rolla in his sights.

"I would love to be able to work on research and development on physics conundrums, like perpetual motion and research on atoms."

They might seem like lofty goals for a 14 year-old, but Steven Harrellson is no typical teen. And if his past performance is an indicator of what's to come, then the sky's the limit!