Gross receives Project of the Year award
<span>Nicholas Gross has been chosen as the recipient of the Central Region's Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year award for 2015.</span>
<span>He was presented the award via Skype on June 10 </span><span>at the Executive Board Meeting of the Lewis and Clark Boy Scout Council.</span>
<span>The award is to recognize valuable service of an exceptional nature by a Scout.</span>
<span>In February of this year, Gross received the 2014 Eagle Project of the Year for the Lewis and Clark Council. Within the Lewis and Clark Council, his project was chosen from a group of 126 Eagle projects.</span>
<span>Gross's project workbook and log with pictures of the project in progress was submitted to the National Office of the Boy Scouts for further review. At that level, each region selects a region-level winner and a national winner is then selected from the four regional winners.</span>
<span>The Central Region covers the states of Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, Wisconsin and parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Nebraska, South Dakota, Virginia and West Virginia.</span>
<span>Within this region there are 80 Boy Scout councils. Gross is the first Eagle Scout to receive the award in the history of the Lewis and Clark council.</span>
<span>In becoming an Eagle Scout, the candidate plans, develops and gives leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, school or the community.</span>
<span>In addition to providing service and fulfilling the part of the Scout Oath, "to help other people at all times," one of the primary purposes of the Eagle Scout service project is to demonstrate, to learn and develop leadership skills.</span>
<span>Related to these are important lessons in project management, budgeting and taking responsibility for a significant accomplishment.</span>
<span>The project completed by Gross was a remodeling of the extended care room at St. John Lutheran School. The room at one time was used as a kitchen, but was never updated.</span>
<span>The old kitchen equipment was removed and new benches were made. The old cabinet frames and doors were stripped and refinished with the addition of new molding.</span>
<span>In the room were three sinks, but only one was operable. All three were removed and a new one was installed along with a new countertops.</span>
<span>No hot water was available, therefore, a hot water heater was installed.</span>
<span>A new doorway was made into the preschool room. A new ceiling was installed and walls were repaired and painted.</span>
<span>The remodeled room is not only being used during school, but is also being used by other church organizations for various meetings.</span>
<span>A total of 784 man hours were needed to complete the project during the summer months when school was not in session.</span>
<span>The project would not have been possible without the assistance of 14 individuals who were part of the total man hours worked, or without the financial assistance and confidence of many individuals who contributed to this endeavor.</span>
<span>"The goal of becoming an Eagle Scout could not have been possible without the actions, care and guidance of my Scoutmaster," Gross said.</span>
<span>Gross is currently registered as a Unit College Scouter and is attending the University of Oklahoma in Norman, working toward a degree in Petroleum Engineering.</span>
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