For Bethel Park Eagle Scout it’s ‘adapt and overcome’
For Bethel Park Eagle Scout it’s ‘adapt and overcome’By Ellen MitchellPITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEWThursday, July 29, 2010As Boy Scouts across the United States celebrate the group’s 100thanniversary, one member is celebrating an achievement of a different kind.Brian Hertneky, 19, of Bethel Park recently received one of the greatesthonors of his life, becoming an Eagle Scout. There’s just one smalldifference between him and his fellow members: He’s been deaf since birth.”When I started Boy Scouts, I thought I would never be able to finish andbecome an Eagle,” Brian signed as his father translated. “I didn’t think itwas possible, but when I got closer to earning all my requirements, Irealized I was within reach of it happening.”Born deaf, Brian’s hearing loss was a result of genetics. Both of hisparents carry the Connexin 26 (CX 26) gene. If there is a mutation in thegene, it can disrupt potassium circulation in the inner ear, causingdeafness. Because newborns were not tested for deafness at the time, Brian’sparents were unaware of his hearing loss until he was 3 months old. Hedidn’t receive the proper tests until he was 6 months old.Although his father, Tom Hertneky, worried that his son would be left outbecause of his deafness, he had been a Boy Scout himself and signed his sonup for Cub Scouts when he was 7.”It helped me to grow up a lot as a young man,” Tom Hertneky said of histime in the Scouts. “With Brian, it has helped him to learn how to socializeand be successful in the hearing world.”Now entering his sophomore year at the National Technical Institute for theDeaf, a school of the Rochester Institute of Technology, Brian said his timein the Scouts helped him to prepare for his future and learn to balance hisresponsibilities as he works toward his associate’s and bachelor’s degrees.”At first I only did Boy Scouts for fun, but as I got older, I saw that itwould be good for my resume and my future,” Brian said. “Sometimes it seemedlike too much work, but it was worth it.”To become an Eagle Scout, a Scout has to earn 21 merit badges, complete aservice project that benefits their community, reach the rank of Life, andhold a leadership position for at least six months. While juggling hisjunior and senior year at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf,Brian quickly began checking off the requirements.”Brian has always been able to adapt to any situation,” said Brian’s Scoutmaster, John Welsh. “He doesn’t let his deafness keep him from doinganything. In any circumstance, he will adapt and overcome.”For his Eagle Scout project, Brian took on the daunting task of landscapinga preschool playground at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. Withthe help of more than 20 volunteers, Brian spent nearly 200 hours planningand designing a new area of the playground.”I knew I wanted to use my project for something to help my school and makeit a better place,” Brian said. “After meeting with the principal, I decidedworking on the preschool would work the best.”The project more than six months to complete, starting with preliminarymeetings in January 2008 with the preschool principal, then later with theplant operations manager. Finally, in August 2008, Brian and volunteersremoved a garden fence and old garden, and replanted the barren area withnew flowers, shrubs, trees and grass.Although Brian officially became an Eagle Scout in June 2009, he didn’treceive his Eagle Scout Ceremony until two weeks ago. After he finished hisEagle project, Brian began his senior year, and his schedule quickly becamefilled with homework, varsity soccer, track, basketball and responsibilitiesas a class officer. Brian’s father also lost the original approval papersfor his Eagle Project, causing Brian to wait longer than anyone in his troopto receive the award.”I’m just happy to finally have received it,” Brian said of his award. “Ispent 11 years working for it and now I have it.”
