Eagle Scout Troop 961 completes project at BRMS

The journey towards becoming an Eagle Scout is marked by a dedication to leadership, community service, and personal growth. In a remarkable display of these qualities, Owen Ayotte, a dedicated young scout from Troop 961, took it upon himself to enhance the aesthetics and functionality of his former middle school, Blue Ridge Middle School by coordinating his troop, family and friends to sand and paint the picnic tables that serve as the school’s outdoor seating area. This initiative not only demonstrated his commitment to serving his community but also left a lasting impact that will help BRMS students enjoy their school experience every day at lunch.

“I was looking for a meaningful Eagle Scout project that would benefit the community, when Mrs. Stetter, the school nurse at Blue Ridge and a Committee member of Troop 961 brought this project to my attention. Then my mom, the German teacher, put me in contact with Mr. Bell and it seemed like a good fit,” Ayotte said.

Ayotte worked with Brion Bell, Principal of Blue Ridge Middle School, at the beginning of the summer to start the plan. The project was to sand and paint the picnic tables at Blue Ridge Middle School to restore and enhance their appearance with school colors, in order to prolong their longevity in the outdoors for students, staff and community of BRMS. 

Said Ayotte, “I reached out to multiple stores requesting donations of materials, supplies and tools to help out with the project. Jake Anderson of Sherwin-Williams donated all of the paint required, around $700 worth. Home Depot gave $50 worth of other materials needed. Domino’s donated $40 in pizza and Vocelli’s donated $70 worth of pizza to feed the hungry troop. The sanders we used were lent to us by friends and family. “Owen Ayotte, James Cook, Sean Cook, Moses Zhang, all members of Troop 961 of Hillsboro, along with the Ayotte family and friends, helped with each phase of the process as a collaborative community effort.

“This project means a lot to me because I know it will be used and enjoyed by many students for years to come,” said Ayotte. “These tables provide a space to be able to spend time with friends outside, whether sharing a meal, playing a game or just having a place to sit and talk.” 

Principal Bell said, “I truly appreciate the hard work of Owen and all his supporting scouts and friends in this endeavor. The project preserves and beautifies our picnic tables.”