Kingsport teen supports local literacy through Eagle Scout project

Sam Wojtas wanted a way to give back to the middle school he attended in Kingsport. That's why the 15-year-old set his sights on creating an Eagle Scout project to benefit Ross N. Robinson Middle School, which included the installation of a "Little Free Library," replacement picnic tables and additional benches for the school. Sam said he was inspired to complete the project because reading has always been a big part of his life, and he noticed that youth around his age are not reading as much. He got the idea for the library while he was still a student at the middle school. "I hope that by building this, I can help the community read more," Sam said. "Help me read more stuff." According to Sam, Robinson did not have any sort of little library there before this point. He said the project process kicked off in May last year. It started with paperwork, getting proper approvals, talking to troop leaders, and gathering books through donation drives. COMMUNITY REACTION A special ribbon cutting ceremony for the library, tables and benches was held on April 20. "I think all the principals were talking about how it looked really nice," Sam said. "All the students were talking about, they're like, 'Man, this looks really good.' I've had people telling me it looks very nice compared to the other ones for the other schools." He mentioned that he learned some valuable building skills while working on the project, which is something he did not have much experience with prior. Friends, family and fellow Scouts lent a hand to see the project to completion. "I mostly had friends and family come to help with it," Sam said. "There's one Scout that can help me paint, but I organized it. There was a trip going on that weekend, so it was a lot of family and friends helping." Sam's mother, Victoria Wojtas, said she thought her son did a "tremendous job" on the project, which helped him demonstrate leadership skills learned throughout the duration of his Scouting journey. "It's meant to be his opportunity to be the project manager," she said. "So it's not him doing all the work himself. It's to show that he can lead a project from start to finish. From developing the project idea and writing up the project proposal and obtaining donations and doing all of the things, working within a budget." In order to earn his Eagle Scout, Sam said he still has some paperwork to do, but has ultimately done most of the project work up to this point. "I need to fill out my application for Eagle Scout," he said. "I need to go to my Board of Review. And then, after all that's done, we have our Court of Honor, where I basically get the medal and acknowledge that I'm an Eagle Scout." BALANCING ACT Sam said he made it a goal to get Eagle Scout at an earlier stage in his high school journey. He is a rising sophomore at Dobyns-Bennett High School and an active member in the jazz band, as well as the Kingsport Music Club. He joined Cub Scouts in the first grade and crossed over to Scouts BSA in sixth grade. While balancing interests and school can be stressful, Sam said he does his best to manage time well. Sam is a part of BSA Troop 48, which has offered Scouting opportunities for youth in the Colonial Heights area of Kingsport for more than 75 years — according to the troop's website. The group meets once a week on Tuesdays. He plans to be a counselor at Camp Davy Crockett in Whitesburg this summer.