Eagle Scout

At 6 feet 6, 275 pounds, Alec Auwaerter plays a key role on the offensive line for a No. 9 St. Paul's football team with a stellar running game powering its 8-0 season and a shot at the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference title. The offensive guard, who has been selected for the Maryland Crab Bowl senior all-star game, is an Eagle Scout and an International Baccalaureate diploma candidate. Auwaerter has a 3.7 grade-point average and is considering majoring in biology.

James Heuser's Eagle Scout project took him a fair distance from his home base of Lutherville, but on the journey he gained a respect and insight to the legacy of veterans and, in turn, embraced a project designed to help provide them a place of relaxation and reflection. Heuser, 16, a Boy Scout with Troop 828 in Lutherville, took on the project of building a large gazebo on the grounds of the Perry Point Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in Harford County. "I knew I wanted to do something special to show veterans how much I appreciate all they have done to protect our country," said Heuser, the son of Dr. Mark and Leslie Heuser, "and I thought the gazebo would provide them with a place to relax and enjoy the outdoors.

Twenty years ago, Aaron Becker had just been named valedictorian of Baltimore's City College when he was also awarded the rank of Eagle Scout — the culmination of years of Scouting work, including a seven-month project to make a video about emotionally vulnerable children. But Becker's longtime affiliation with the Boy Scouts of America came to an end recently, when he returned his Eagle medal to the organization because of its decision to uphold a ban on openly gay Scouts and leaders.

Eugene H. "Gene" Shaffer Sr., a World War II veteran, Boy Scout leader and retired crane operator, died Friday of leukemia at his home in Millsboro, Del. The longtime Ellicott City resident was 85. Born in Baltimore in a neighborhood near Edmondson Avenue, he was the son of a homemaker and a crane operator who helped build the Bay Bridge. His son would work at the same trade for 44 years. Mr. Shaffer's mother died when he was 5 and many extended family members helped his father raise him. He dropped out of school at 17 to join the Navy in 1944.

Tyler S. Gee, 16, can add several descriptives after his name, including rising junior at Hereford High School and aspiring Eagle Scout and aerospace engineer. Now he can tack on one more — riverkeeper — because of his efforts to deter the spread of an invasive algae found in the Gunpowder River. The Hereford resident has built eight wader washing stations, to state-established specifications, and positioned them along the northern Baltimore County waterway. Each wooden platform has a stiff brush, a basin of salt water, directions for use and a brief history of didymo, a freshwater algae that, if left unchecked, can spread and destroy aquatic life.

Garrett Michael Anthony, son of Hayden and Linda Anthony, of Bel Air, was formally awarded his Eagle Scout rank and medal in an Eagle Scout Court of Honor on Jan. 8 at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Abingdon. Garrett, a member of Troop 313 in Bel Air and a senior at C. Milton Wright High School, became an official Eagle Scout on June 2, 2011, and continues to be active in scouting, most recently earning the Bronze Eagle Palm. Garrett earned Cub Scouting's highest award, the Arrow of Light, as a fifth grader in 2005 and crossed over to Boy Scout Troop 313 that same year.

Kenneth W. Davis, a retired Boy Scouts of America official who was active in the affairs of Severna Park United Methodist Church, died Tuesday at St. Agnes Hospital. The longtime Severna Park resident was 84. The son of a garage owner and a homemaker, he was born and raised in North Haven, Conn. After graduating from New Haven High School in 1945, he served for two years in the Navy as an electrician. In 1936, Mr. Davis joined the Cub Scouts and progressed to the Boy Scouts, where he eventually attained the rank of Eagle Scout.

Matthew Aaron Thomas, son of David Thomas and Janet Viol-Thomas, of Abingdon, earned the rank of Eagle Scout Oct. 26. His Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project at William S. James Elementary School was completed in May. His project consisted of making significant improvements to the two gardens along the front walkway and a side wall garden area at the school. A total of 235 feet of stained, double-stacked landscaping timbers and 180 feet of landscaping edging were installed along with four new azalea bushes.

Drew Lovell, of Troop 973, sponsored by St. Mary's Episcopal Church, in Abingdon, completed his Eagle Scout project Oct. 8 at the Humane Society of Harford County, 2208 Connolly Road, in Fallston. His project involved building a brick paver walkway and platform at Rebel's Dog Park to be used by dog owners as they let their dogs play off leash in the park. His project also included landscaping the surrounding ground to divert rain water runoff which previously made the area muddy. Drew's project involved months of planning and fundraising.

Nick Conroy, an Eagle Scout candidate from Troop 109, is constructing a prayer garden at the Solid Rock Baptist Church on Hammonds Ferry Road as his Eagle project. The garden will be open to the public. The sophomore at Lansdowne High School started his project at age 14 after seeing other Scouts in his troop scramble to get their projects done before the deadline of their 18th birthday. He said he could have started his Eagle project sooner, but he postponed it to help older Scouts finish their projects before the deadline.