By Ellen Mitchell
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, July 29, 2010
As Boy Scouts across the United States celebrate the group’s 100th anniversary, one member is celebrating an achievement of a different kind.
Brian Hertneky, 19, of Bethel Park recently received one of the greatest honors of his life, becoming an Eagle Scout. There’s just one small difference 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 and become an Eagle,” Brian signed as his father translated. “I didn’t think it was possible, but when I got closer to earning all my requirements, I realized I was within reach of it happening.”
Born deaf, Brian’s hearing loss was a result of genetics. Both of his parents carry the Connexin 26 (CX 26) gene. If there is a mutation in the gene, it can disrupt potassium circulation in the inner ear, causing deafness. Because newborns were not tested for deafness at the time, Brian’s parents were unaware of his hearing loss until he was 3 months old. He didn’t receive the proper tests until he was 6 months old.
Although his father, Tom Hertneky, worried that his son would be left out because of his deafness, he had been a Boy Scout himself and signed his son up for Cub Scouts when he was 7.
“It helped me to grow up a lot as a young man,” Tom Hertneky said of his time in the Scouts. “With Brian, it has helped him to learn how to socialize and be successful in the hearing world.”
Now entering his sophomore year at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, a school of the Rochester Institute of Technology, Brian said his time in the Scouts helped him to prepare for his future and learn to balance his responsibilities 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 it would be good for my resume and my future,” Brian said. “Sometimes it seemed like too much work, but it was worth it.”
To become an Eagle Scout, a Scout has to earn 21 merit badges, complete a service project that benefits their community, reach the rank of Life, and hold a leadership position for at least six months. While juggling his junior 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 Scout master, John Welsh. “He doesn’t let his deafness keep him from doing anything. In any circumstance, he will adapt and overcome.”
For his Eagle Scout project, Brian took on the daunting task of landscaping a preschool playground at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. With the help of more than 20 volunteers, Brian spent nearly 200 hours planning and designing a new area of the playground.
“I knew I wanted to use my project for something to help my school and make it a better place,” Brian said. “After meeting with the principal, I decided working on the preschool would work the best.”
The project more than six months to complete, starting with preliminary meetings in January 2008 with the preschool principal, then later with the plant operations manager. Finally, in August 2008, Brian and volunteers removed a garden fence and old garden, and replanted the barren area with new flowers, shrubs, trees and grass.
Although Brian officially became an Eagle Scout in June 2009, he didn’t receive his Eagle Scout Ceremony until two weeks ago. After he finished his Eagle project, Brian began his senior year, and his schedule quickly became filled with homework, varsity soccer, track, basketball and responsibilities as a class officer. Brian’s father also lost the original approval papers for his Eagle Project, causing Brian to wait longer than anyone in his troop to receive the award.
“I’m just happy to finally have received it,” Brian said of his award. “I spent 11 years working for it and now I have it.”
Source: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_692355.html