LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Schools will be back in session in just a few weeks, and students at Eastern High School will return to a renovated campus courtyard.
What You Need To Know
- Miles Bonifer is a Boys Scouts of America life scout
- He completed his Eagle Scout project to earn the highest rank of Boy Scouts
- His project includes expanded and restoring a memorial court at his high school
- The expansion will add a memorial to honor the life of Tyree Smith who was killed last year
Miles Bonifer loves spending time outdoors and capturing nature on camera.
“My favorite part about taking pictures is just sharing the world through your eyes and capturing the beauty of the world as it is,” Bonifer said.
The Boy Scouts of America life scout wanted to complete an outdoorsy Eagle Scout project, but he wasn’t sure exactly what to do.
A memorial courtyard at his high school was just the inspiration he needed.
“It was dedicated to three students who were all in a car together and they got into an accident and were all killed,” says Bonifer.
He raised $2,000 and collected hundreds of dollars’ worth of supplies and tools and recruited volunteers to restore and expand the memorial court.
“I just want to say I wouldn’t be able to do this without you guys. I appreciate you all taking your time to come out here. Let’s do this!” he said to volunteers on project work day.
In September, 17 years after the fatal crash, the school lost another student unexpectedly.
“That morning, I think I was in third period and I heard rumors of people whispering about someone had been shot that went to Eastern at their bus stop, and we still hadn’t found out who it was yet,” Bonifer said.
He soon learned his 16-year-old classmate Tyree Smith was killed in the drive-by bus stop shooting.
His eagle scout project includes expanding the court and planting a tree to honor Smith.
“He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, wasn’t even the target, just got caught in the crossfire,” says Bonifer. “He was such a good kid and his death affected everyone at this school in one way or another.”
Bonifer wants the memorial to serve as a reminder of the impact of gun violence.
“There’s no reason to hate another teenager or another person that much where you need to end their life and affect their family’s lives and their friends’ lives. There’s a lot more to it than just pulling a trigger,” says Bonifer. “I just hope this affects the community and really gives people a sense of hope. I also hope people see this as realization that life is precious and you should live every day like it’s your last, because you never know something may happen to you.”
And of course, Bonifer’s project will always honor the lives of Eastern High School students gone too soon.
Smith would have been starting his senior year this fall. Smith’s memorial will be added to the courtyard during a ceremony when students return to school in the fall.