Silverhill resident presents Eagle Scout project to school

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SILVERHILL, Alabama — “I just wanted to give something back to the school where I got started,” said Michael Burdine.

Burdine, 17, the son of Tina Burdine of Silverhill and Tony Burdine, grandson of Donna Kline of Silverhill, Allen and Jean Burdine, is now a senior at Robertsdale High School.

As a first grader at Silverhill Elementary School, he joined Cub Scout Pack 45 in Robertsdale (there was no Cub Scout Pack in Silverhill back then). As a seventh grader at Central Baldwin Middle School, he graduated to Boy Scout Troop 42 in Silverhill under Troop Leader Nick Urban.

He recently completed his Eagle Scout project by building a giant outdoor checkerboard at the school.

With the help of his fellow Boy Scouts and members of his family, Burdine said, he built the checkerboard using brick pavers and outdoor tiles, which they were able to find at Lowe’s in Foley, who just happened to have the tiles that matched the school colors.

Playing pieces are made from the tops of 2-gallon buckets (5-gallon buckets were too large) with paws representing the school’s mascot, which is the Bulldogs, to indicate kinged pieces.

According to its website, scouting.org, The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest Scouting organizations and one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with more than 2.4 million youth participants and nearly 1 million adult volunteers.

The BSA was founded in 1910, and since then, more than 110 million Americans have been participants in BSA programs at some time. The BSA is part of the international Scout Movement and became a founding member organization of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1922.

Since 1912, the Eagle Scout rank has represented a milestone of accomplishment that is recognized across the country and even the world. Those who have earned the Eagle Scout rank count it among their most treasured achievements.

Scouts are required to complete their Eagle Scout requirements by the age of 18.

Burdine presented his Eagle Scout project at an assembly, held Monday, Jan. 27, in the school gymnasium, which is one of the final requirements for earning his Eagle Scout badge.

He now has just one step to complete to receive the honor. He will go before a Board of Review, where he will explain and answer questions about his project.