Good news roundup: Eagle Scout community service project is no picnic -- but it's a picnic table

Welcome to the weekly feature that is our good news roundup. Let’s talk about some of the good news from around New Mexico.

Boy Scout looks to earn Eagle Scout rank

Over the weekend, Garrett Shaw of Boy Scouts of America Crew 459 enlisted the help of a group of volunteers to help him complete his Eagle Scout community service project. Shaw and the group spent Saturday building four picnic tables at the Albuquerque Police Department Academy. This endeavor was all part of Shaw’s effort to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank a Boy Scout can achieve.

Since it was first awarded in 1912, more than 2 million Scouts — or only 4% — have earned this rank. Shaw was attempting to earn his Eagle Scout honor through performing an Eagle Scout Service Project. These are community-based projects where the scout performs an act of service for a community entity that is not affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America.

After brainstorming with his crew leaders, Shaw decided to dedicate his service project to building picnic tables in the front and back courtyards of the Albuquerque Police Department Academy. A previous Scout undertook a similar service project years earlier when he built picnic tables in the front of the APD forensic sciences building.

In order to carry out his project, Shaw, 17, first had to get approval from the Boy Scouts of America Great Southwest Council. Once he received the go-ahead, he began fundraising to purchase the building materials and putting together a team of volunteers. He received a $50 donation of supplies from a home improvement store and raised an additional $800 to buy the materials. He was able to get his friends from school to volunteer for the project. On Saturday morning, Shaw and his team assembled in the parking lot of the Academy and began cutting and stacking wood for the tables. Soon, they were putting pieces together and screwing the wood together. Shaw was watching diligently as the volunteers worked, providing the occasional safety instruction or building guidance when needed.

He was also documenting their progress with notes and photos for a post-project presentation he will give in order to finish his Eagle Scout application, which he will send off later this year.

Two NM teachers named STEM advocates

The Society of Science, a nonprofit membership organization with the mission of promoting the understanding and appreciation of science and the role it plays in human advancement, has selected two New Mexico teachers to become members of their Advocate Program. This is a professional development program that supports teachers and mentors who are working to increase the number of students from traditionally underrepresented communities or low income households who participate in STEM competitions and programs.

Demvia Acosta Maslian of the New Mexico Military Institute and Geizi Dejka of San Juan College High School will receive $3,000 each to help guide their students’ scientific research and help them apply for competitions. One hundred teachers and instructors nationwide were selected to be advocates by the Society of Science.

Got some good news of your own?

Please don’t be shy. It’s time to brag about some of the good things in Albuquerque and beyond. You can email your good news ideas to goodnews@abqjournal.com.