Eagle Scout awarded at honor ceremony

Courtesy photo Calen Weidner, right, accepts his Eagle Scout award from Scout Master Chad Brenning.

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Calen Weidner, 18, of rural Culbertson, has earned the highest advancement award the Boy Scouts of America offers to Scouts, the Eagle Scout Award. Weidner was presented the award during a Court of Honor ceremony by his brother Jarod Weidner, 23, who is also an Eagle Scout. Both young men are members of the First Congregational Church, Troop 147 in McCook, Nebraska.

According to Scoutmaster Chad Brenning, Weidner is one of approximately only 4 percent of all Boy Scouts who attain the rank of Eagle Scout. Each candidate must earn 21 merit badges and successfully complete a community, church or synagogue-related service project to earn his Eagle. Weidner's Eagle Scout project converted some farmland owned by his grandparents to natural habitat for wildlife. In order to complete the project, Weidner obtained a variety of trees and bushes from the Natural Resources District while Pheasants Forever donated native grass and wildflower seed.

Weidner thanked his family for their support throughout the years, and gave special recognition to another Troop 147 Eagle Scout, Steve Smock, by giving him the mentor pin. He encouraged the younger Scouts to continue on in their scouting. Weidner is also a member of the Order of the Arrow and joins other outstanding Americans who have become Eagle Scouts, among them former President Gerald R. Ford, Jr., astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, cinematographer Steven Spielberg, and the former head of the FBI, William Sessions.

Weidner attends McCook Evangelical Free Church and is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars. He was a homeschool graduate this spring and is the son of Russ and Michelle Weidner.