Willowbrook junior earns Eagle Scout status

Willowbrook junior Ryan Leo Luner recently earned Eagle Scout status, the highest rank attainable in Boy Scouts of America.

Those who receive that rank earn at least 21 merit badges and demonstrate Scout Spirit through the Boy Scout Oath and Law, service and leadership (which includes organizing, planning and completing an extensive service project in the community).

Luner is with Troop 140. He joined Cub Scouts when he was in third grade and transitioned to Boy Scouts when he was in fifth grade.

“The idea of going out on weekend campouts and learning life lessons that will guide and help me for the rest of my life is what drove me to join Boy Scouts,” Luner said. “I never would have made the rank of Eagle Scout without my friends and especially my family. The two people who have helped me the most are my Eagle Scout project coach, Jeff Werner, who has always been and forever will be an inspiration to me, and my mom, Carol Anne, who I hold very close and has always helped me through good and bad.”

For his Eagle Scout project, Luner developed, designed and constructed a 16-by-24-foot above-grade, external raised bed garden plot for the use of horticultural studies at Willowbrook. Luner said a lot of time went into planning the project and asking local businesses for monetary donations to support his efforts. He also had to get the parts to construct the garden plot and work closely with staff at Willowbrook. The project took about six months (290 hours) to complete.

Luner plans to continue with the Boy Scouts program by serving as a camp counselor at Camp Freeland Leslie in Oxford, Wis.

“I hope to help younger Scouts grow their skills to earn the same achievement I have earned – the rank of Eagle Scout,” Luner said.

After he graduates from Willowbrook, Luner plans to study the principles of engineering and major in math to accomplish his dream of becoming a successful civil or architectural engineer.