CHINA GROVE – Students, faculty and staff, parents and members of Boy Scout Troop 379 of Granite Quarry recently gathered to dedicate and show appreciation for a completed Eagle Scout Project at Bostian Elementary School.

Eagle Scout Spencer Chandler, who also serves as the troop’s senior patrol leader, organized and led the complete renovation of the Basketball/Activity Court at Bostian Elementary School.

Spencer, son of Stephen and April Chandler of Salisbury, put together a plan to completely rip up the old court, pour a new concrete court, refurbish the goals and paint the court with various playground games and a map of the United States.

After developing the plan, Spencer went before the school’s administration and the Scouting Board of Review Committee to gain approval for the project.

A major part of Chandler’s leadership responsibilities were to raise money and obtain in-kind contributions to cover the project. The project had an estimated cost of more than $12,000. Chandler credited Darrell Shell of Carolina Site Works for making it possible to get the project off the ground.

Shell volunteered his company to dig up and dispose of the old asphalt court free of charge.

Several other companies responded with large in-kind contributions. Yates and Funderburk Concrete, Inc. provided the labor to lay the new concrete free of charge. Concrete Supply Company provided the concrete at a great discount. Ace Hardware of Rockwell provided all of the paint and painting supplies. Cozart Lumber of Rockwell provided all the lumber for the concrete forms.

That left $4,000 for Chandler to raise for the balance of the project. He began soliciting contributions from local businesses and the Bostian Elementary PTA. After raising all the funds for the project, and the demolition and pouring of concrete was complete, Chandler recruited boys and adults in Troop 379 along with Bostian Elementary Art Teacher Crystle Lineberger to help paint the court with playground games and a large learning map of the U.S. Finally the court was finished and the 350 students at the school could use it to play basketball and other games on a new court.

At the dedication, Spencer thanked the sponsors Lisa Sigmon, the now retired principal of Bostian Elementary who helped him with initial project approval, current Principal Cory Stirewalt, Scoutmaster Justin Fisher, his parents, and all the volunteers who helped complete the project.

The dedication ended with a ribbon cutting and the Bostian Elementary students and teachers all lined up to high five Chandler for his leadership and efforts to complete the project.

During the ceremony, Spencer said he learned a lot about leadership in Scouts, particularly during this project, Completing the project was very challenging, he could not have done it without the support of many volunteers and contributors at the school, in the community and in the troop.

Sponsors for the Eagle Project included Carolina Site Works, Yates and Funderburk Concrete Inc., Concrete Supply Company, Bostian Elementary School PTA, Bogle Firm Architecture, Cozart Lumber, Ace Hardware of Rockwell, F&M Bank, Powles Funeral Home, King Eye Center, NAPA Auto Parts in Rockwell, Farm Bureau Insurance in China Grove, Horizons Bank, P&G Security, and John Leatherman State Farm Insurance.

Chandler will receive his Eagle Scout Award at a special ceremony at Shiloh Methodist Church in Granite Quarry in January.