Ethan Hays, Eagle Scout of Troop 726 of North Webster.

NORTH WEBSTER — A Boy Scout Court of Honor was held Sunday, April 28, afternoon in North Webster for 18-year-old Ethan Hays. The Wawasee High School senior received his Eagle Scout Award. Hays, son of Rich and Julie Hays, is a member of Boy Scout Troop 726, North Webster.

Earning the rank of Eagle Scout requires a leadership role in a project for the community where the Scout lives. Ethan worked on his eagle rank by building an entryway arch at the main entrance at the Mermaid Festival grounds. The archway is made of metal welded together and will be supported by telephone poles. Ethan worked on this project with the Lions Club in North Webster.

“My eagle project was building an archway over the main entryway to the Mermaid Festival grounds. I had to meet with the Lions Club to determine the design of the arch, arrange to have the design made into a CAD drawing, develop a parts list, approach a metal fabrication company to order and get metal cut, weld that arch together and finish the metal, work with a NIPSCO to get the telephone poles set, coordinate getting the arch lifted into place and then turn in all the paperwork to complete the eagle project,” said Ethan.

Like most boys, Ethan said, “I dislike the paperwork, but love the leadership part of the project. I really like using my hands and the welding is the best!”

Eagle projects are all about leadership. Ethan could have chosen to supervise everything and do nothing, but that is not how Ethan is wired. He loves the process and the doing. Ethan worked with more than seven different organizations ranging from community service groups to government agencies. All the skills Ethan has learned throughout his scouting career has prepared him for the leadership required for this project.

Ethan is a member of Troop 726. He started his Scouting career as a Tiger in first grade. Now 11 years later, Ethan has earned 32 merit badges, provided more than 100 hours of community service, held positions of leadership in the troop, trained younger Scouts in skills and leadership, was elected to Order of the Arrow and camped untold hours.

Letters of congratulations were received from Sheriff Kyle Dukes who attended the Court of Honor, congratulating Hays stating “Our community will be a better place because of the accomplishment and leadership you have shown up to this point. You have a bright future ahead.”

During the brief ceremony, his mother and father were both given Eagle Scout pins in recognition for their support and guidance. His robotics coach, Jed Wandland, was presented the mentor pin.

The flag ceremony was conducted by Boy Scout Troop 726 Scouts. Scott Fox, Scoutmaster for Troop 726, was master of ceremonies and presented the Eagle Scout award.

Since being in high school Ethan has been in concert, pep and marching band. Ethan has been on the Iron Pride robotics team and earned his way to state three of the four years. He earned the Judges Award at state in has senior year.