Greendale Eagle Scout Commended For Project: Board Of Education

GREENDALE, WI — A local Greendale High School alum and Eagle Scout was commended at Tuesday night's Greendale Board of Education meeting for his many accomplishments and service project.

Edward "Eddie" Evans is a longtime resident of Wisconsin. His journey with scouts began in 2008 when he joined a local Cub Scout pack at his elementary school in Hawaii, Board of Education President Joe Crapitto said at the meeting.

In 2010, Evans moved to Wisconsin with his family where he joined Greendale's local Cub Scout Pack at College Park Elementary in Greendale, Crapitto said.

According to Crapitto, Evans found a group that shared appreciation for things such as year-round camping, pinewood derby races and more. Evans stuck with the pack and received his Arrow of Light award in 2013.

Evans graduated from his cub scout days into the Boy Scouts of America Troop 506 in Greendale. The troop brought more in depth camping trips and scout retreats, and gave Evans the chance to rise through the ranks of the organization, according to Crapitto.

Evans was named the troop historian when he was in middle school. He then became a "very young" patrol leader, then assistant patrol leader, and was finally named senior patrol leader, according to Crapitto.

Evans also attended a variety of skill and leadership building camps across the country in his time as a boy scout. In 2015, he attended a leadership camp at Indian Mound Scout Reservation in Oconomowoc, Crapitto said.

Evans was selected by his peers to receive the Order of Arrow award in May of 2018, Crapitto said. He began planning for his Eagle Scout project during his senior year at Greendale High School.

Evans chose to benefit Autumn Leaves Assisted Memory Care in Franklin with his project, Crapitto said.

Preparation for the project began in fall of 2019. Evans decided to construct multiple outdoor wooden benches for the residents and family of the memory care facility.

Evans planned and finished the project in his senior year of high school with the help of numerous volunteers.

"Coordinating the manpower was a challenge, but welcome obstacle for Eddie," Crapitto said.

Other obstacles were met with the pandemic, but Evans pulled through to complete part of his project in February of 2020, with the remaining benches now being completed throughout the spring.

It was a socially distanced project delivery, and Evans could not meet with the beneficiaries when he was delivering it, Crapitto said.

"Despite the obstacles, the benches will provide countless enjoyable outdoor moments," Crapitto said.

The pandemic also posed issues for Evans' Boy Scout Board of Review, the meeting where his Eagle Scout would be made official. Instead of being supported by his troop and leader at the decision in person, Evans had to log on to his computer for virtual board of review, Crapitto said.

Luckily, the meeting pulled through, and Evans became Troop 506's 95th Eagle Scout, according to Crapitto.

Evans graduated from Greendale High School in May of 2020, and just completed his freshman year at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Crapitto said. He is studying natural resources.