Avondale High School Student Honored at Rochester Hills City Council Meeting for Community Project
Avondale High School senior Drew Gordon has been in Boys Scouts since the second grade with a goal of achieving the highest level in scouting, the Eagle Scout. His recent efforts to enhance Veterans Memorial Pointe in Rochester Hills not only earned him recognition from the Rochester Hills City Council but also brought him one step closer to being an Eagle Scout. “There are a lot of requirements for becoming an Eagle Scout,” Drew explained, “one requirement is that you have to plan and lead a service project that is helpful to your community.”
Drew Gordon pictured with his grandparents, Charles and Sue Nurek after receiving special recognition at the Rochester Hills City council meeting
Drew’s service project was to install two benches and replace an aging map of the Clinton River at Veterans Memorial Pointe located at the corner of Livernois Road and Avon Road. He took responsibility for the project from start to finish beginning with creating a plan for the enhancements to the site. “I had to have a plan for every part of the project including what it would look like when it was done, how much the changes would cost, where the money to pay for the project would come from, and how long it would take,” he said.
The project would take months to complete and hundreds of dollars to cover the cost of materials. Drew is quick to point out that he got a lot of help from fellow scouts who raised more than $1000 – mostly through bottle drives; Mr. Bud Clark who mentored him through the construction and installation of the benches; and a map engraver who donated the new sign. “It was a real community project in that it involved a lot of the community and it did something for the community,” he said.
Proud of the success of his project and the recognition he received from the City of Rochester Hills, Drew is most proud to be part of Boy Scouts of America. He sees scouting as more than learning outdoor skills. Drew sees scouting as a stepping stone to wherever he travels after high school. Undecided about his career path, he knows he wants to be of service to others. “I’ve learned a lot about leadership, communicating with a lot of different people and organization skills. I’m sure that I’ll use all of those skills when I move into my career,” Drew said. “And I really like helping people,” he added.
In addition to pursuing the rank of Eagle Scout, at Avondale High School Drew was all-League Varsity football, is on the Varsity track team, plays percussion in the high school band, and represented the school at Boys State this past summer. He also participates in mission trips with his church.
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