Ryan Maydick, son of Kevin and Linda Maydick of South Whitehall, was awarded the Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout Award during a Court of Honor Dec. 27, 2014, at St. Joseph the Worker Church, Orefield.

For his Eagle project, he designed, led and coordinated construction of an outdoor center of learning at his grade school, St. Joseph the Worker.

The outdoor classroom consisted of a 600-square-foot patio, nine benches, teacher's table and landscaping selected to integrate with the science curriculum. In total, nearly 1,000 hours went into the project.

He was assisted and supported by volunteers from Troop 150, the parish and local community.

Funds were raised through the sale of engraved pavers making up the floor of the classroom.

Inspired by all he learned over the course of his project, at age 17, he started his own successful landscaping and construction business.

Maydick, now 18, and a senior at Allentown Central Catholic High School, is a member of Troop 150 at St. Joseph the Worker Church.

He successfully earned 31 merit badges and attended high adventure trips to Philmont, New Mexico and Florida Seabase.

He completed National Youth Leadership Training, is a member of the Witauchsoman Lodge 44 Order of the Arrow, and earned the Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII religious awards.

He has served as assistant patrol leader, patrol leader, scribe, historian, quartermaster, chaplain aide, assistant senior patrol leader, and senior patrol leader.

He is an avid outdoorsman and remains active as an Assistant Scoutmaster with his troop.

Maydick is an active volunteer in his school, church and community, and continues to use the lessons learned while earning his Eagle Scout Award in other aspects of his life.

He participated in Catholic Heart Work Camp mission trips for two summers.

This past summer, his responsibilities included instructing and directing other team members in the enlargement and landscaping of an existing patio at a community clinic in Roanoke, Va.

He plans to attend Penn State University for landscape contracting upon graduation from high school.