Aviston English recognized for eagle scout project at Mustang Lions Club

By Jacob Sturm
[email protected]

Seating arrangements out at the Mustang Lions Club building on Frisco road have much needed
improvements thanks to the hard work and dedication of a new Eagle Scout.

Aviston English, who recently completed his eagle scouts project to provide picnic tables to the
outdoor areas of the Mustang Lions Club, received recognition and was presented with multiple
proclamations and words from Senator Markwayne Mullin’s office and Representative Brian Hill
of House District 47 at the ceremony April 9.

English said the original plan was to work with the Mustang Animal Shelter, which English only
had good things to say about, before the project had some issues and was scrapped. From
there, a few calls opened a path to the picnic tables concept to help accommodate users of the
Lions Club property with seating.

“At the end of it all, it was just how can I do this project in a way that would help people,”
English said. “And so, there was a lot of easier ways that I could have gone about doing this. We
wanted a way that would help the Lions Club and would help people that were visiting. And so,
it was just going at all of it, and all of the little steps in developing how and what will help
people the most.”

The project would have cost nearly $3,000 if they had to buy everything.

“Thankfully, lots of people donated, especially the Lowe’s in Mustang was a huge contributor
toward that, and they donated a large amount and they donated all of the wood, the stains,
seals, screws,” English said. “They donated a bunch of stuff that made it all possible really.”

He said the project brought about pride in accomplishing the work, relief that he had
completed the project in time, as well as excitement for how the tables are going to be used for
years to come.

English had to go and present the information, and get the work approved saying the work was
sufficient. He said that process took place in the past two weeks from now.
English is a member of Troop 396, after moving in the past few years from Illinois. He said
coming and joining Troop 396 has enabled him to grow.

Scott Brown, the troop leader for Troop 396, spoke highly of English’s motivation and desire to
accomplish the Eagle project, and said he has turned out to be a blessing to the Troop since
joining a little over a year ago.

“He’s a natural leader and an all-around good scout,” Brown said. “He’s been working…, since
he joined the troop, to complete this eagle scout project before his 18 th birthday. He completed
four merit badges, plus a couple of others that he had to do just to get that rank. In that time
period, you would kind of make that natural assumption that he would be focused on that, but
at our troop meetings he’s focused on helping the other scouts earn their advancement and
their ranks as well.”

Brown said English has already filled out an adult application and talked with Brown about how
he could continue serving the troop.

Troop 396 has had two Eagle Scout Projects through their group, both with ties to the Mustang
Lions Club. The first project came a year back, when an eyeglasses station was placed in
Mustang Town Center. Troop 396 meets at Mustang Town Center every Tuesday school is in
session at 7:30 p.m.

As for the Mustang Lions Club, President Rob Estes spoke to the impact having eagle scouts
think of them as benefactors has on the club.

“I think it’s part of the great big circle,” Estes said. “The way I look at everything, everything is in
a circle and everything cycles. This is just one cycle where this young man can do something to
provide for his community, and then it is going to benefit us because now you can come out to
the Lions Club and go fishing, and if you want to have a picnic lunch you can now have a picnic
lunch which in turn benefits the community. It’s full circle to me.”

Estes also shared the Lions Club’s feelings toward the Eagle projects they have been impacted
by.

“(We’re) very, very blessed,” Estes said. “(And we’re) very blessed that they would bless us
knowing we will bless others.”