NATCHEZ — A little blood, lots of sweat but smiles instead of tears have made Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s Natchez Campus a better, lovelier place.

Brothers James “Bubba” and Steven “Gator” McKinley of Boy Scout Troop 168 earned their Eagle Scout badges in May — the highest award in scouting.

To attain Eagle rank, scouts must complete a community project. Bubba saw a need at the Copiah-Lincoln Natchez campus for students to sit outside in a smoke-free environment, and Gator made sure folks with limited mobility could enjoy it too.

The pavilion, located outside the Tom Reed Academic Center, is 10-by-15 feet, complete with a roof, six benches and a disability accessible ramp.

Mark LaFrancis, former scout leader and Copiah-Lincoln’s director of public information, and college Vice President Teresa Busby, helped the McKinley brothers develop the project and also paid for the materials.

“As their contact at Co-Lin, and a helper on the projects, I developed a tremendous respect for both James and Steven,” LaFrancis said. “They pushed through all the hot and cold weather, dozens of details, several revisions and minor setbacks to see their projects to completion. It is comforting to know these brothers will be our future leaders.”

Luckily for Bubba, he had a friend who was handy with design.

“I have a friend who’s an architect,” Bubba said. “We sat down with Mark LaFrancis and drew it. He told me all the specs and we presented it.”

Bubba said it was important to him that the pavilion be a non-smoking area.

“There were picnic tables where people sat outside to smoke,” Bubba said. “We wanted to make it a nonsmoking pavilion. We asked for that and succeeded.”

The brothers said they had plenty of help from friends and Copiah-Lincoln maintenance staff, but like on any construction project, Bubba and Gator ran into a few snags.

“We had all the usual problems,” Bubba said. “The roof was the biggest pain. It was hot up there. We got numerous small cuts and bruises, and were sore the next day.”

Bubba said other mistakes included not getting enough lumber, screwing pieces together out of order and keeping the posts perfectly straight.

Gator said removing tree roots when building the ramp was the worst part for him.

“I never want to see a tree root again,” Gator said. “And my ego was bruised when I forgot the power tools one day.”

The Eagle Scouts agreed that the best part of the project was seeing it finished.

“Knowing I completed such a big step was really awesome,” Gator said. “You have to build a workbook with before and after photos, fill out an application and say who worked on what day.”

Gator said the local Boy Scout council approves the project first, and BSA America gives it final approval before badges are awarded.

“I’m not sure what was harder, the working or the writing,” Gator said.

Bubba said he had a knack for woodworking when he started, but now he’s even better.

“I’ve learned some shortcuts,” Bubba said.

“It feels pretty cool, like, ‘Wow, it almost looks like we planned it this way,’” Bubba joked. “It should impact Co-Lin for a long time — it’s a pretty strong pavilion.”

Gator said he had no knowledge of carpentry, but he definitely picked up the skills quickly. He said he’s very pleased with how the pavilion looks.

“It’s an amazing-looking pavilion considering who planned it,” he said, smiling.

LaFrancis said the Copiah-Lincoln community is impressed and pleased with the pavilion and disability accessible ramp.

“Both the pavilion and ramp fill a need that had existed for a long time, and will service Co-Lin for many, many years,” LaFrancis said. “In addition, we are fortunate to have such fine young men men as the McKinley brothers to take on the projects; both worked considerable hours — far more than an Eagle Scout typically works on a project.”

While Bubba, 19, and Gator, 18, are close in age and home schooled together, they are quite different. Gator said he actually dropped out of Boy Scouts for a while until he realized how close he was to reaching Eagle status, and joined his brother on the project.

The brothers have been involved in scouting since Cub and Tiger Scouts. Bubba said their father and grandfather were scouts, but never earned their Eagle Scout badges — so it was special when they were honored in a ceremony at First Baptist Church where they are active in the youth group.

Bubba said his favorite badge is for rifle and shotgun shooting.

“I like anything outdoors, period,” Bubba said.

Gator, a musician, said his favorite badge was for citizenship and nation, especially learning about the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.

Gator said he wasn’t exactly a model Boy Scout, but with God’s help he was able to reach Eagle Scout status. His advice to young people in Scouts is to work hard.

“Try to learn a lot of skills for your merit badges, and practice writing because you will be doing a ton of paperwork,” Gator said. “I just want to thank God for everything. I couldn’t have made it. I didn’t have a lot of skills.”

Gator added that shortcomings don’t have to stand in the way of doing something big.

“Your physical or mental limitations aren’t what you think they are,” Gator said.

Bubba said Eagle Scout projects are not just about building something.

“Even if you can’t build, you can (gain) leadership skills,” Bubba said.

Only four percent of Boy Scouts attain Eagle status, Bubba said.