MADISON – Nicholas ‘Nick’ Charles Samaras committed to the requirements to become an Eagle Scout because he wanted to be unique.

“I wanted to be the first person in my family to be an Eagle Scout,” Nick said. “I wanted my name on the wall plaque that names the Eagle Scouts from the troop at Madison United Methodist Church.”

He is a member of Troop 204 in Madison. Currently, he is a sophomore at the University of Alabama.

“A doctor recommended that Scouting would be good for me — to help me learn social and practical skills,” Nick said. “I joined Cub Scout Pack 204 as a first-year Webelo.”

“Scouting has taught me how to tie a square knot, to be kind to other people and not to lie in life,” Nick said.

For his service project to earn Eagle rank, Nick decided to build a cardinal directional sign for the outdoor classroom at Madison Elementary School. “This sign helps teach the students about directions by showing them where is north, south, east and west,” he said.

On each directional board, Nick also wrote an interesting tidbit of interest to students. For example, for ‘North,’ he wrote “Bob Jones High School,” which is north of Madison UMC. For ‘West’ on the sign, he wrote “James Clemens High School,” ‘East’ is “Chattanooga,” and ‘South’ is “Montgomery” for Alabama’s capital where students may have taken field trips.

Nick’s supply list for the project included a wooden pole and boards, paint, nails, screws, cement, lettering stencils and a weathervane to place on top of the sign.

Nick participates with Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF).

His parents are Stephen and Laura Samaras. Stephens works as an engineer for Tennessee Valley Authority at Brown’s Ferry Nuclear Plant, and Laura works for Publix supermarket.