Straub’s Eagle Scout Project a Winner for Huntington
More than a year of planning and six solid days of hard labor have produced an attractive and practical outdoor staircase at Huntington High School, compliments of sophomore Joseph Straub. School officials, family members and Boy Scout dignitaries turned out at last week’s ribbon cutting ceremony.
While he was in the process of choosing an Eagle Scout project, Mr. Straub was approached by two Huntington High School administrators who pitched the idea of a staircase leading from the school’s ground level up a steep hill near the tennis court complex along Holdsworth Drive.
The feeling was that a staircase in that location would facilitate an evacuation of students from the immediate area outside the building during fire drills or in a real emergency.
Mr. Straub said he spent about 18 months planning the project and broke ground on Saturday, March 25. The staircase, which was built into the hill, is eight feet wide and consists of 25 steps, with solid rails on either side. Bluestone gravel was placed in each of the framed landings.
No machinery was used during the work. The excavation was all done by hand. The project utilized 39 volunteers who spent 360 main hours toiling. One volunteer came from Chicago. Some of the materials used were donated and some were purchased at cost. Mr. Straub said his expenses totaled about $2,000, which he helped cover through car washes and bake sales.
Mr. Straub has been involved in scouting since kindergarten. He joined Boy Scouts as a fifth grader and is a founding member of Troop 877. “I have loved it the entire time,” he said about his Boy Scouts experience.
On hand for the ribbon-cutting were Huntington High School Principal Carmela Leonardi, Superintendent John J. Finello, Assistant Superintendent David H. Grackin, Director of Facilities Paul Rispoli and Operations Supervisor Alvin White.
Mr. Finello closely inspected the staircase and then queried Mr. Straub about different aspects of it. “It looks great,” Mr. Finello told the teenager. “Congratulations on a great job.” With the crowd attentively listening, Mr. Straub briefly described the project from start to finish and shared behind-the-scenes details of the work.
One of the guests at the ceremony was Herbert McGrail, advancement chairman for the Matinecock district of the Boy Scouts, who has mentored more than 600 aspiring Eagle Scouts through their required projects over the past 11 years.
Although he won’t be graduating high school just yet, Mr. Straub is already giving some thought to potential college plans. “I know I want to go to a big school and possibly major in business, business technology or something in the sciences,” he said.
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