One former Luverne High School student is doing what he can to give back to his alma mater.

Aaron Rhodes, an Eagle Scout and freshman at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Opp, presented the Luverne High School Future Farmer's of America (FFA) program a $1,000 grant donated by Mr. Sam Adams of Montgomery on Monday.

Rhodes, who is a member of the 2004 Eagle Scout Class of the Tukabatchee Area Council, wrote an essay explaining the FFA program's needs, which was submitted to the Distinguished Eagle Scout for review. Rhodes' nomination was selected for the 2004 Eagle Scout Grant.

"It feels great," Rhodes said. "Last year, when I was still here, I knew every once in awhile, we would get to looking around and we wouldn't have enough rulers or chalk."

Rhodes was apart of Luverne's welding program, which is apart of the FFA program. He said he decided to nominate the program because it inspired him to choose welding as his profession.

"The main reason I got into welding, which is the profession I'm going into, is because of welding all the time in high school," Rhodes said. "I like it, so I decided to go into something I like doing and I like welding."

Luverne FFA teacher Anthony Mikel was appreciative of Rhodes' continual concerns with the program.

"I appreciate that because we're going to buy some new equipment from what he had to work with and make it better for future children and hopefully enhance them into going into welding," he said.

Luverne Principal Earl Franks assured Rhodes that the money would be used for what he intended.

"Aaron wanting to give back to a program that was beneficial and meaningful to him is great," Franks said. "This is a wonderful program at our school with welding, mechanics and agriculture. We can always use money. The money will go where Aaron wanted it to go, back into the Ag program."

Although Franks was thankful for the funds, he was very complimentary of Rhodes' accomplishments in Boy Scouts of America.

"We're very proud of Aaron for doing all the work it requires to be an Eagle Scout, that's easier said than done," Franks said.

As for Rhodes' career in welding, Mikel believes it's very promising.

"It feels real good because he progressed a lot from the time he started in the ninth great until he was a senior, he expressed an interest in welding and it kept developing," Mikel said. "Finally, we got him a scholarship to LBW Community College. He really enjoys it and I think he'll succeed."

Rhodes is a 2004 graduate of Luverne High School.