By Grace BENNETT,
intern

Nelson Keasberry, an Eagle Scout in Troop 288 of La Crescenta, has made a significant impact on his career as a Boy Scout as well as to community of Tujunga.

Keasberry recently completed his Eagle Scout service project, which is the last stepping stone to achieving the highest level in Boy Scouts.

For his project, 14-year-old Keasberry rehabilitated the outside wall of Sunland Elementary School where chipping beige paint used to cover the outside perimeter. Due to the work of the teen and four of his peers, the team was able to transform the wall into a vibrant and inviting mural, welcoming passersby at the busy intersection of Oro Vista Avenue and Hillrose Street.

The idea for this project, Keasberry said, came from a request made by a local teacher at Sunland Elementary.

“My mom works [at Sunland Elementary], and her principal came to her about a beautification project that he wanted done,” Keasberry said. “I contacted the troop and they said that it would be a good idea for an Eagle project.”

Although the concept seemed like a simple idea, the preparation was extensive. The Boy Scout compiled a report about the current status of the wall and laid out his plans to beautify it with the help of a few volunteers from the troop.

“It took a long time to plan it. I had to get it approved by the school board. [I had to] write up all of my plans, get all of the supplies and do fundraisers. I think it took three months of preparation, but it only took a day to paint the whole wall,” Keasberry said.

Currently, the wall is coated in a refreshing “peekaboo blue,” according to Keasberry, and scattered along the perimeter are the silhouettes of children playing. On the corner, a bright yellow sun is painted across a number of fluffy white clouds. Although the Boy Scout and his troop contributed entirely to cleaning, preparing and painting the base, Debbie Middleton, an artist and mother of a former Sunland Elementary student, helped to finish the wall by adding these artistic details.

Keasberry focused not only on benefiting the outside appearance of the school but also the overall maintenance and charm of the facility.

“I hope it improves curb appeal so that, when more people drive by, they will notice it,” he said. “Hopefully, through the curb appeal, we can get more enrollment in the school.”

In addition to his dedication to service projects, Keasberry hopes to go into an engineering career, which he said he is well-prepared for due to his experience in Boy Scouts. He aims to further his education through entrance into “a prestigious college” or getting a degree in engineering through the Air Force.

Although he is concentrating on a future career, Keasberry also dedicates his time to volunteering in Cub Scouts and being a mentor for younger kids. He hopes that this project will help to inspire the younger Cub Scouts.

“[The Cub Scouts] look up to us coming out here and serving the community, and it hopefully inspires them to do the same,” he said.

Whether it is through his Eagle Scout project, advancing his position in Boy Scouts, or pursuing his passion for engineering, Keasberry’s positive effects on the people and community of La Crescenta and Tujunga is undeniable.

  Grace BENNETT