GRAVETTE -- Daniel Keith Huntsman of Bella Vista, a member of Boy Scout Troop 450 in Bentonville, attained the rank of Eagle Scout in a Court of Honor ceremony Sunday, May 21. The ceremony was held at the Highlands United Methodist Church. Now 17, Daniel will be a senior at Gravette High School next year where he is involved in Student Council and National Honor Society and is a member of the football and track team.
Huntsman was introduced at the Eagle Scout ceremony by his Scoutmaster, Pepe Estrada. Guest speaker was Mark Puente, Daniel's Eagle Scout project coach. Other speakers explained the significance of the Eagle Scout badge and told personal stories of their Scouting experience. Daniel was presented his Eagle Scout badge and certificate and an Eagle handkerchief was presented by his sisters Lindsey and Stephanie Huntsman. He then presented pins to his parents, Bryan and Carolyn Huntsman, and grandfather, J.C. Huntsman. Refreshments were served following the ceremony.
To be an Eagle Scout a boy must earn 21 merit badges and complete an Eagle Scout project that benefits the community before his 18th birthday. Daniel's Eagle Scout project consisted of clearing 40,000 feet of shoreline and thickets to reduce the risk of bird strike around the Bentonville Municipal Airport. He also installed a plaque overlooking the runway in honor of the airport's namesake, Louise M. Thaden, a female pioneer in aviation and Bentonville native. Finally, he installed a concrete trashcan pad in the airport's picnic area to reduce the presence of litter around the lake.
Daniel started his Scouting adventures in Ramstein, Germany, in 2009, when he was nine years old. He finished his Webelo's Arrow of Light award in Washington state and since then has been a member of Troop 212 at Gig Harbor, Wash.; Troop 509 at Hurlburt Air Force Base in Florida; Troop 85 in O'Fallon, Ill., and now Troop 450.
Huntsman has camped in Germany, France (The WWI Argonne American Cemetery), Switzerland, Washington, Oregon, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Arkansas. He has held multiple leadership positions at the troop and council levels and attended three of the four National Boy Scout Camps. He will attend the fourth, Philmont Scout Ranch, this summer.
He expressed thanks to all the adult leaders who helped him on his trail to Eagle Scout.
General News on 05/31/2017