Scouts earn Eagle Award

Wills Craven Dunham earned the rank of Eagle Scout on Dec. 12, 2013.  He is a member of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church Boy Scout Troop 83.

Dunham began scouting in the first grade as a Tiger Cub in Cub Scout Pack 352 at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church where he earned the Arrow of Light Award, the Cub Scout’s highest honor. Dunham crossed over to Boy Scout Troop 83 at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church in February of 2009.

As a member of the Wolf Patrol of Troop 83, Dunham served as Patrol Leader, Historian and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader for Troop 83 under Scoutmaster Jim Henry.  Dunham earned 35 merit badges and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow, the Boy Scout Honor Society. 

Dunham also earned the Triple Crown Award by backpacking over 75 miles at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, canoeing over 100 miles at Northern Tier in Minnesota and Canada, and participating in Keys Adventure at Sea Base in the Florida Keys.

For Dunham’s Eagle Scout project, he organized the design, build and installation of a 22 foot pedestrian bridge crossing the creek on the trail between the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest and Vestavia Hills Elementary Central.

 Dunham asked his Uncle, local architect Edward Bailey, to design the bridge.  He then pitched his idea to the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest Board of Directors where it was unanimously approved.

 The project was completed on May 24, 2013. The project was funded by donations from family and friends totaling over $2,700 and more than 400 volunteer hours were contributed by family, friends and Scouts.

Dunham is a sophomore at Vestavia Hills High School where he is a member of the VHHS cross country and track teams, the German Honor Society and the Habitat for Humanity Club.  He is also an Explorer with the Vestavia Hills Fire Department and a member of Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church.

Lars Olsson of Vestavia Hills has achieved the Eagle Scout Rank, the highest rank in Boy Scouts.

He is a member of Troop 76 at Liberty Crossings United Methodist Church, under the leadership of Chris Morhard.

For his Eagle Scout project, Olsson along with other scout members of his troop and friends built six benches and installed them on the prayer trail at Liberty Crossings Church.

As a Boy Scout, Olsson held various leadership positions, including quartermaster. He earned 24 merit badges and is a member of The Order of the Arrow.

Olsson is a junior at Vestavia Hills High School and is the son of Cynthia and Stefan Olsson.