Through years of hard work, a Lincoln High School student has become an eagle scout.

Justin Richardson earned the honor this past fall after building at 20-foot square picnic area by the prayer garden at The Vineyard Church of Ann Arbor.

“I feel proud," Richardson said. "It has been a lot of work,”

Richardson has been involved in scouts since first grade. He initially became a Tiger Scout before progressing to Wolf, Bear, Weblos Cub and finally boy scout.

Photo courtesy of Justin Richardson

Richardson is part of Troop 290, in which he has served as an assistant patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, chaplain’s aid, patrol leader and scribe.

Richardson earned 30 merit badges in the process of becoming an Eagle Scout, which he said was the most challenging part of achieving the rank.

The idea for the final project came when when Richardson and a friend found an unused picnic table and thought it would be perfect to put next to the prayer garden at the church.

In one day they completed the project, which required them to clear shrubbery, lay down woodchips, border the picnic area with red bricks and plant sunflower seeds around the picnic area.

“That has helped me learn how to be the boss of things,” he said. “Becoming an eagle scout helped me be really responsible and be more mature.”

Richardson is a senior at Lincoln and plans to study zoology at Washtenaw Community College after graduation.