By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN

dobrien@dailynews.net

School officials were a bit skeptical when Aaron Bean proposed to them last year what he wanted to tackle as his Eagle Scout project.

But Jean Ross, then president at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School, soon would learn this was no ordinary Boy Scout.

And that Aaron comes from a not-so-ordinary scouting family.

Aaron became the last of three brothers to earn his Eagle Scout medal earlier this spring when he was honored at a Court of Honor ceremony at the Amherst First United Methodist Church in Russell County.

He earned the highest honor in scouting after completing a project to fix drainage problems on the north side of TMP-Marian's main building on campus.

Aaron, who lives in Luray and has attended TMP-Marian since his freshman year, designed and created a new drainage system to route water away from the street just north of the building where water would stand and form sheets of ice during winter months.

Older brothers Nathan and Travis Bean also earned their Eagle Scout medals after oldest sibling Alicia had set a precedent by earning the Gold Award, equivalent to Eagle in the Girl Scout program.

"Scouting has been in our background, in our family for years. It's always been very important," said the siblings' mother, Jo Ann Bean, who also earned Girl Scout's highest award when she was a teenager.

That award then was called First Class Scout, helping her follow in her father's footsteps, who was an Eagle Scout.

Aaron's project different than brothers

Nathan's Eagle Scout project of scraping and painting their church was more of the traditional kind, while Travis chose a little more unique route -- training a seeing eye dog.

When Aaron began thinking about his Eagle project, he didn't care so much about keeping up with his brothers. He wanted to do something for his school.

"I wanted to give back to the school, show (appreciation) for what they've given me," Aaron said. "You've heard their saying, 'Give us four years, and we'll give you a lifetime.' That is so true. I'm taking a lot from that school."

So Aaron set out to plan the addition of an elevator along with his dad, a construction engineer, with hopes of starting it the summer before his senior year.

"When he first came in to my office and said he wanted to put an elevator in the school, he had all these drawings in a notebook; I was impressed," Ross said. "But I listened tongue in cheek. That was an enormous task to take on. I told him we'd better get Mr. (Tom) Kisner involved."

Ross laughed thinking about that day.

"I smiled as he left my office," Ross said, admitting that while she admired the youngster for his ingenuity, she had her doubts he could pull off such a feat.

Kisner, vice president of grounds and operations at TMP-Marian, admitted he also had his doubts.

"I was extremely surprised he wanted to go with that big of a project," Kisner said.

Kisner said he thought he'd help Aaron think of a less daunting project.

"So I asked him what line of work his dad did," said Kisner, whose eyes lit up when Aaron told him his dad was owner of Secondary Containment, a dirt excavation company that specializes in environmental containment systems.

"Right away, I knew I had something he could do," Kisner added, referring to the drainage system that has caused problems for years.

Even then, Kisner said he'd be surprised at such a large accomplishment.

"I thought, 'Let him talk, he'll probably change his tune.' " Kisner said. "I was pleasantly surprised that he followed through with all it, all of it -- and then some."

A little improvising

Following Kisner's suggestion, Aaron did what Scouts are taught to do -- improvise.

He set about planning a different project, which included the use of his dad's heavy equipment and hours of volunteer work by Ted as well. The project also included getting the necessary materials at a reduced price.

"I know historically there have been some pretty big Eagle projects, but the ones I've been familiar with personally, this was quite a bit larger than most," said Ted Bean, who had little experience in scouting as a youngster but served as Scout Master for years for his sons' Cub Scout packs and Boy Scout troops.

Ironically, the planning and physical work it took to complete the drainage project probably was more hours than it would have taken to plan for the elevator project.

But Aaron is used to hard work.

Besides growing up on a farm and being around construction work his entire life, he also has some physical challenges to contend with as well.

He broke his leg sledding when he was in sixth grade and underwent four surgeries, having to learn to walk again after each surgery.

Aaron faced challenges with the drainage project with much the same attitude -- full steam ahead.

During a rainstorm, drainage from the 29,000 square foot roof filled open trenches, some of which collapsed.

While digging, the Beans discovered old water and telephone and steam lines, along with active electrical and gas lines, which forced them to do a lot of the digging by hand.

"Those are just some of the things you face when you do a job outdoors," Aaron said. "There are things that can slow it down, but we knew we would get it done."

Welcomes a challenge

"He does not shrink from any challenge," said older brother Nathan, an instructor in computer information systems at Kansas State University in Manhattan, where Aaron plans to continue another family tradition next fall.

"My children are the fifth generation to (attend KSU)," Jo Ann said. "There really isn't any other college to go to, not in our house anyway."

Aaron is going to major in construction science and management, with plans to return home to work for his dad and someday take over his business.

Aaron is the only Bean son who took an interest in the construction business, and he has helped his dad since he was a youngster.

He began running the equipment at about 14 years old when Ted was recuperating from kidney cancer.

So the TMP-Marian project was just all in a day's work.

"I get a kick out of it," Aaron said. "This is my love."

Aaron enjoyed the project so much he didn't mind spending many a day after school, as well as weekends, working on it.

"I think he had a hard time sitting in school, hearing that equipment running out there," said his dad, who sometimes would work during the school day as well as after-school hours.

Looking to the future

Now, Aaron and Kisner both anxiously are waiting to see the effects of the project.

"I can foresee that we won't have any ice problems," Kisner said of the project that included placing plastic pipe when they poured cement for a new sidewalk on the north side of the school, making it capable of being heated if necessary.

"This winter wasn't as bad (weather-wise), so we didn't get to test it," Kisner said. "I think Aaron was a little disappointed."

"This will have an enormous (positive) effect on the school," Kisner added. "This was something needed much worse than an elevator, from the safety issue point."

Ross has since retired from TMP-Marian but still visits the school frequently.

She, too, knows the effect Aaron's project will have for years to come.

"He loves the school and appreciates the education he got there," Ross said. "He wanted to do something really special. He tried to think of something that would be a great gift, and an elevator would have been.

"But this," she added. "What a great gift."

Ross said she never will forget her first thoughts when Aaron approached her about the project.

She's still smiling, but no longer doubting.

Carrying on the tradition

With his Eagle project completed, Aaron is preparing for graduation in a couple of weeks, then will spend the summer working for his dad before heading off to K-State in the fall.

But he still plans to stay involved in scouting.

"I can be a volunteer, a leader, an assistant scout master," said Aaron, listing various opportunities to remain active in scouting. "I can stay completely active in scouts, and I plan to."

And, he can watch as a new generation continues the family scouting tradition.

Aaron's nephew -- Alicia's son, Elijah Fontanez -- is a Tiger Cub in the Kansas City area and is moving to Hays this summer with his mom and younger sister, Gabbie.

Elijah and Gabbie already are enrolled in Holy Family Elementary School for the 2009-10 school year, and Jo Ann is sure her grandson will be involved in Cub Scouts in Hays. Gabbie will be old enough to be a Daisy in the Girl Scouts program.

"We're really looking forward to that," Ted said of his daughter's impending move to Hays this summer.

With his youngest son away at college, Ted said it will be fun getting to watch another family member grow up in a scouting background.

"We're just starting another generation," Jo Ann said.