Five Boy Scouts from local Troop 550 achieved Eagle rank recently. The Barton Creek Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints sponsors the troop.

Lake Travis High School freshman student Mason Slade, son of Duane and Jennifer Slade, earned his Eagle Scout rank by sending 5,000 pairs of “Croc” shoes to the island of Kosrae in Micronesia. It was enough Crocs to shoe the population of the entire island.

“Most of the people living there do not have a pair of shoes to wear and many have never worn a pair of shoes in their entire life,” Slade said. “They walk most everywhere, and it is very muddy.”
Going without shoes puts people in undeveloped countries at serious health risk as many diseases are transmitted through bare feet in contaminated soil and sewage. Slade said he learned of the Kosrae need through missionaries. He began his project by finding a place to get the Croc style rubber shoes at a good price. Then he raised money to purchase his shoes for Micronesia by selling other shoes at local events.
“For every pair of shoes purchased, two could be sent to Kosrae,” Slade said.
Westlake High School 2009 graduate David Germann, son of Chris and Leigh Germann, earned his Eagle Scout award by building a walkway and bridge and clearing trails at the Nature Conservancy in Bee Cave. Germann attended Brigham Young University last year and will soon begin a two-year mission for his church in Toronto.
WHS 2010 graduate Austin Finch, son of Carmen and Ted Finch, cleared trails in the Senna Hills greenbelt as his Eagle Scout project. Finch will attend BYU this fall.
LTHS 2010 graduate Will Finlayson, son of Richard and Kristen Finlayson, extensively landscaped an area near the LTHS tennis courts to earn his Eagle status. Finlayson will attend BYU this fall.
WHS 2010 graduate Sam Hazen, son of Vince and Connie Hazen, built a new entrance and coordinated clean up efforts for the Eanes Community Cemetery for his Eagle Scout Project. Hazen will attend UTSA this fall.
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts of America. The title of Eagle Scout is held for life. Requirements include earning at least 21 merit badges and completion of an extensive service project that the Scout plans, organizes, leads and manages.

— By Dane Anderson