Two Young Men Become Eagles

Beau Waters and Anthony Padgett, both members of the Boy Scout Troop 557 sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Winter Haven, have achieved the highest honor in the Boy Scouts, the Eagle Scout Award.
To earn the rank of Eagle, a scout must earn 21 merit badges and plan and develop a service project that demonstrates leadership.
Waters’ project was inspired by the funding cut-backs that the schools in Polk County have experienced. When he realized that some teachers often purchase supplies out of their own pocket, he wanted to do something to help.
His project consisted of soliciting donations and collecting school supplies to be donated to Snively Elementary School of Choice in Winter Haven.
Waters, his parents, fellow troop members, and youth and leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spent two Saturdays in August of 2009 soliciting donations. Together Waters and others worked over 151 hours on this project.
He was able to collect thousands of new items such as glue, pencils, folders, crayons, and spiral notebooks. He also was able to give thirty $20 Walmart gift cards to be distributed among the teachers at Snively Elementary in Winter Haven.
Waters expressed how good he felt as he presented the items to the principal, Dr. Joann McKinney. McKinney confirmed to Waters the great need that there was at Snively Elementary for the supplies.
Waters is a senior at the Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School and after graduation plans to attend Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Waters is the youngest of three brothers who have all achieved the rank of Eagle.
Anthony Padgett’s project consisted of collecting items to be donated to the Women’s Resource Center of Florida, Inc located in Winter Haven. This organization offers help to women and families in crisis situations.
Padgett and others from Troop 557 spent one Saturday placing bags on the doors of houses in several Winter Haven neighborhoods with a list attached soliciting donations of diapers, hygiene items, gently used clothing, and various household items.
The following Saturday the troop went out to the same homes to collect the items to be donated.
Padgett collected four truckloads of items to be donated. Anthony’s mother Evelyn Padgett said, “We were hoping to get just one truckload.”
Jean McKinney, Director of the Women’s Center, was so excited to receive the amount of items collected.
Padgett and other volunteers spent over 122 hours on this project.
Padgett is the oldest of five brothers and is the first in his family to achieve the rank of Eagle. He has set a high standard for his younger brothers.
Padgett is a senior at All Saints Academy. Recently he was honored as defensive player of the year for the boys varsity basketball team.
Curtis Tilley, the Scoutmaster for Troop 557 presented the Eagle Award to both Waters and Padgett at a Court of Honor held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Winter Haven on March 10, 2010.
Tilley is pleased with the examples of Waters and Padgett. “They have set a high precedent for the other boys in the troop.”
Waters and Padgett have been in scouting together since they were eight years old. Evelyn Padgett added, “It was fun to see Beau and Tony get the Eagle Award together.”