Sophomore is 14th from Notre Dame in recent years to receive Eagle Scout designation.
Kevin Cragg, a sophomore at Notre Dame, says he learned a lot from his Eagle Scout project, which also benefited Forgotten Harvest.
Cragg joins current Notre Dame students Logan Hand, William Ballew and Anthony VanDieren, and alums Logan Verheyen, Brennan Eagle, Tyler Obear, Ryan Flaherty, Ryan Dau, Erik Egner, Connor Verheyen, Jack Stouffer, Joe Lombardo and Peter Dondanville, who also achieved Eagle Scout status in recent years.
For his Eagle Scout project, Cragg purchased and constructed a greenhouse on wheels to help benefit Forgotten Harvest, which operates a farm in Fenton, Mich. This type of greenhouse enables the farm to start one crop early in the spring and when the crop is established the greenhouse can be rolled to an adjoining field to start a new crop.
Cragg said the project was very fulfilling for him.
“It was rewarding to see the project, with the help of some amazing people, flourish into something that brings good into the world,” he said.
He also said he learned a lot from the experience.
“I found real patience in teaching everyone how to complete their task as stated in the greenhouse manual,” he said. “I became good at redirecting and making comments without hurting their feelings, while still getting my point across. I kept an upbeat attitude on the job even when I was exhausted and didn't feel happy.”
Cragg and his crew added supplementary features to the greenhouse, including a vent control unit, automatic shutters, sides and temperature regulator. When the greenhouse was complete, Cragg ordered and planted more than 850 cherry and grape tomato plants to start its first crop.
At the end of three months (mid-August until the first week of November), Cragg harvested approximately 2,000 lbs. of sweet tomatoes for the distribution center of Forgotten Harvest in Oak Park.
He said the venture also taught him how to depend on himself rather than relying on others to lead.
“I think I also developed a stronger work ethic, emphasizing for myself that it's not what l get out of it, it's what the people in need get from the work we do. Lastly, I further developed my speaking skills, which helped get what I needed done without creating confusion for the workers on the project.”
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." The Marist Fathers and Brothers sponsor NDPMA's Catholic identity and manages its educational program. Notre Dame is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools, the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.