Aaron Trent, 17

Why nominated

“Aaron Trent is a Liberty High School senior. When he was an eighth-grade student at Timberview Middle School members of his class (not friends) vandalized TMS and cut down many trees with a chain saw,” wrote Timberview Principal Brett Smith. “For his Eagle Scout project, Aaron and members of his troop replaced those trees four years after the event with mature trees that are beautiful. Whereas he had nothing to do with the vandalizing of TMS, he felt that it was his duty to mend what his eighth-grade class was known for. If this does not speak to the quality of character expected of Academy School District 20 students, I do not know what does.”

Q&A

Why did you pick the tree replacement as your Eagle Scout project?

“My mom actually works up at the middle school, Timberview Middle School, and I talked to the principal, and I thought the trees would be a really good idea to give back. We replaced seven trees. The trees originally were vandalized by kids in my grade. I thought it would be a good way to give back to TMS from the class of 2010.


What kind of trees did you plant?

“One maple, and then there were four ponderosa pines and two blue spruces.”

Was it hard to plant them?

“Digging the holes was pretty bad because on that Saturday (in early October), it was really cold and it was snowing, and the ground was pretty cold. Actually digging it up on Saturday was pretty hard, to dig 5 feet in diameter and 2 feet in depth. The Monday after, we planted the trees, and that was pretty easy, just backfilling and watering them and stuff.”

Aaron said that 35 people helped with the project.

So are you officially an Eagle Scout?

“Not yet, I have to wait six months as a Life Scout before I get my Eagle Scout.”

Who’s taking care of the trees now?

“We’re watering … just making sure the trees survive. Once a week, I get a couple of volunteers and we go up and water it.”

What are your plans after high school?

“After high school I want to be able to hopefully go to college at BYU Provo (Brigham Young University at Provo, Utah). And then after BYU Provo, hopefully go to med school.”

What kind of doctor do you want to be?

“I don’t really know what kind of doctor, but I’m definitely interested in medicine.”

What are your hobbies?

“I’m a lifeguard up at Villa Sport, I like to play hockey year-round. Indoor and outdoor.”