Teen honored for becoming Eagle scout

Van Wert independent/contributor content

Boy Scout Troop 35 recently honored Ben Price, 18, of Van Wert, during an Eagle Scout Court of Honor on Sunday, December 19, at First Presbyterian Church.  Price is the son of John and Kari Price of Denver, Colo., and Diane and Pat Ryan of Van Wert.

To receive the rank of Eagle Scout, a Boy Scout must earn a minimum of 21 merit badges and organize and carry out an eagle project that benefits the people of his community before turning 18 years of age.  Price’s eagle project was to design and build 12 benches to be used at the Van Wert YMCA’s Camp Clay facility around the pond and new cabin.

Through business and personal donations, he purchased the materials and worked with members of his troop to complete the benches. With the help of the YMCA and their director Hugh Kocab, he delivered and placed the benches at Camp Clay.

Price thanked Ace Hardware for selling materials at cost, Hall Lumber for cutting the wood and the YMCA’s Hugh Kocab for seeing the need for the benches at Camp Clay and making the project possible.

Price, a senior at Van Wert High School, maintains a 4.0 grade point average and is active in the band, National Honor Society, Beta Club, Spanish Club and Big Brothers Big Sisters at the Marsh Foundation. He is a Junior Rotarian and Elks “student of the month.”

After graduation, Price plans to attend the University of Colorado in Boulder, to earn a degree in chemistry.