Post Messenger Recorder -

Ralph Waldo Emerson's famous words, "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail", is living wisdom for Belleville High School senior Avery Lettman. Lettman has indeed left a needed trail as he attempts to seek his Eagle Scout award this fall. Blazing a new walking path that connects the middle and high school buildings to the elementary school building in Belleville, Avery has accomplished something that is a larger scale project than most Eagle Scout candidates set out to accomplish.

Lettman says, "Normally Scouts take on a bench project or something smaller but this is one project that really tested me. It took almost 1 year of planning and countless hours of fundraising and work to make this happen." Avery got the idea originally from his high school. There had been a desire for some time to find a creative solution to connect the two campuses for ease of movement for staff and students. With only 4% of Boy Scouts achieving the level of Eagle Scout, choosing a service project that is both meaningful and services one's community is significant, and so Avery set the bar high and moved forward with the desired project with administrative support from the School District of Belleville.

District Administrator Nate Perry says, "While touring other school districts planning for the 2016 referendum projects, Belleville representatives experienced smaller districts connecting school buildings to create a 'campus' environment. Avery's Eagle Scout project helps to achieve this (in addition to the new playground installation as well)." He is pleased with Avery's significant achievement to improve the functionality of the school environment he calls "home."

It was no easy task and Avery realizes though he desired to complete the project as his own, it took support from others to make his project successful. Avery is quick to acknowledge the people in his life who helped him, "I would also like to thank all of the community members that donated to my project making this possible. I would also like to thank my family, Boy Scout Troop 61, and members of the Sugar River Wrestling team for helping me construct the path."

While Avery knows full well the importance of teamwork in terms of doing a job well, he has also learned some life lessons. Taking on this large of a construction project takes planning and the ability to see what road blocks could get in the way of success. For Avery, he knew that because his Eagle Scout project needed to be completed before his 18th birthday, he had to get it done before the first snowfall - something that can occur earlier than expected in Wisconsin, so careful planning was critical. This was the hardest part of the project for Avery. Being a full-time student and accomplishing a larger scale project like this on time is truly remarkable, yet, despite what others see, Avery remains humble, reflecting now that the path is in, he hopes his efforts will be enough to earn him the Eagle Scout honor. Regardless, Avery sees how accomplishing a project like this applies to life in setting goals, and realizing how to accomplish those goals - a lesson that is invaluable when you learn it at a young age!

Now that the hard physical work is over for Avery, others get to experience the path that Avery saw in his mind's eye become a reality and experience the beauty of the project.

Nate Perry has already noticed a changed landscape for his staff and students, "When walking between the elementary and middle schools, I come across other students and shared staff utilizing the path and enjoying a piece of nature along the way."

As Avery Lettman finishes his senior year at Belleville High School, he has indeed left a trail behind for many to travel on that betters his community. He heard the call from his high school and it was done with service in mind. Lettman is indeed a leader and blazed his own trail for the good of the School District of Belleville for years to come.