For Peter Schwarz, becoming an Eagle Scout was a lesson in problem-solving, organization, resourcefulness and — above all — perseverance.

“When I start a project, I want to be thorough and do it right,” Peter, 17, said. “It’s important that I see it through to the end.”

Peter, a senior at Bend High School, spent much of his free time last year developing a community service project as part of his Eagle Scout certification. He constructed benches for the Powell Butte Retreat Center.

As part of the project, he had to write a detailed proposal, raise funds for materials, organize volunteers and, finally, implement it. He did all this while maintaining a 4.17 GPA and participating in lacrosse, cross-country running and cross-country skiing.

Peter is a second-generation Boy Scout. He says he’s stuck with the Boy Scouts through high school because of his family’s ties to the organization, and because of the leadership skills he’s learned.

For the past four years, he has been a leader at the organization’s National Youth Leadership Training Camp.

From the beginning, the yearlong project was an exercise in problem-solving. He had to come up with a bench design and decided to construct the benches out of composite wood to keep maintenance costs down. But the composite material was flimsier — and heavier — than regular wood.

“I had to figure out how to build a stronger bench, but make it so that it wouldn’t weigh a ton,” Peter said.

Peter completed a 15-page research proposal for the Eagle Scout review board, then faced the daunting prospect of raising the $1,400 he would need to build the benches. He contacted several businesses and was able to cover the cost with donations from The Home Depot and Miller Lumber.

“I’d never done anything like that before,” Peter said. “It taught me about how open the community is and how open to helping people are if you just ask.”

Finally, after getting the materials, Peter led 30 volunteers in a springtime work session, completing 22 benches for the retreat center. He was awarded his Eagle Scout ranking after the project was completed.

Peter says after he graduates from Bend High next year, he wants to go to a four-year university and eventually study mechanical engineering or physics at a postgraduate level. Since he was young, Peter says he’s loved figuring out what makes things work.

“I’ve always enjoyed fixing things and taking them apart,” Peter said. “Anytime anything breaks, I’m there taking it apart, and trying to make it better.”

Peter Schwarz, 17

Bend High School senior

GPA: 4.17

Activities: Boy Scouts, lacrosse, cross-country running, cross-country skiing, community service activities

Favorite TV Show: “The Big Bang Theory”