St. Pius X High School seniors Conner and Evan Bailey constructed a meditation area with a Marian Grotto and benches at their school to earn Eagle Scout ranking.
The twins, both 17, who live in Festus, said it was important for them to complete their Eagle Scout project at the high school. The boys worked on the project for about five months and were officially approved by the Eagle Review Board for the St. Louis area on Jan. 22, earning Eagle Scout status.
“We chose Pius for our Eagle Scout project because at Pius, legacy is a really big thing,” Evan said. “Leaving a part of ourselves here is very important to us. It’s important for every student to think about this. I’m glad we did this, because people will walk by it and pray with it every day for a long time.”
Their mother, Angie, said Conner and Evan are third-generation St. Pius students, adding to the legacy they’ll leave when they graduate later this spring. The twins’ older siblings also attended St. Pius: Alex, class of 2016, and Elissa, class of 2021.
The twins were honored at a Jefferson County Council meeting for their accomplishments. Councilman Tim Brown (District 6, De Soto) proclaimed Feb. 23, 2026, as “Conner Douglas Bailey Day” and “Evan Charles Bailey Day.”
“I thought it was very neat to be recognized by the county,” Conner said.
Chuck, the twins’ father, said the family’s faith played a big role in the projects. They attend St. Joseph Catholic Church in Imperial.
“(Conner and Evan) have been servers at our church since they could walk,” Chuck said. “They are so strong in their faith. They wanted something related and wanted to be able to pass that on to those who walk by.”
Angie said Conner and Evan received about 28 donations from family, friends and businesses for their Eagle Scout projects. The donations, including cash, volunteer time and supplies, had to be meticulously documented for the Scout board to review.
Evan’s project was a concrete pad and two benches for a new meditation area, located in a common area between the annex and the main high school building.
Conner’s project was a new concrete Marian Grotto placed on a granite pedestal, which had a plaque installed on it. The grotto was constructed on top of Evan’s concrete pad.
Conner said their two projects combined created another space in the common area for students, staff and alumni to reflect and pray.
Evan said No Limit Contracting in Festus donated their time and equipment to dig an 8-by-10-foot clearing, about 8 inches deep, for the concrete pad. Arnold Ready Mix donated the concrete, he said.
Hoods Discount Home Center provided the decking used to construct the benches at a heavily discounted rate, Evan said, and Destination Metal Design crafted the signs attached to the front of the benches.
The boys also received a $300 donation from Home Depot.
Conner said the plaque on the grotto pedestal was donated by St. Louis Ornamental Stone.
The boys said they started making calls to businesses last April, asking for product pricing, donations or help in any way.
Their projects were completed in August.
“It was very entertaining to watch them make their first phone call as opposed to their last phone call,” Angie said. “They learned a lot of business etiquette. They did a great job and learned a lot.”
Conner said their projects are meant to last.
“With it being concrete, laminate wood and granite, it’s very low maintenance,” he said. “It’s going to be very simple to come back, clean it up every once in a while.”
While the twins have dedicated a good deal of their time, since sixth grade, to their Boy Scout Troop 413, they both said they’re looking forward to attending college in the fall and focusing on their future.
Both boys will be attending Maryville University, with Evan planning to study business, and Conner planning to study finance.
The twins earned 49 merit badges apiece during their time in Scouts.
While Evan said all the merit badges were “really cool,” one experience stuck out.
“We learned the basic mechanics of flying a drone from a pilot,” he said. “The pilot I had was also a certified flight instructor, so he put me in the pilot’s seat, and we went off in his little Cessna. It was a really great experience.”
“There were so many opportunities (in Boy Scouts) that the normal person just doesn’t get,” Conner added.
Outside of Scouts, Evan plays golf for St. Pius and plays piano, with his final recital scheduled in April. Conner plays tennis for the high school.
Angie said both her sons earned the United States Youth Congressional Award bronze medal for completing 100 hours of community service, 50 hours of personal development, 50 hours of physical fitness and a two-day, one-night expedition.
Additionally, in early March, Evan received the Archbishop John L. May Service Award, based on community service. It’s awarded to one senior from each of the 24 Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Angie said.
“They accomplished quite a bit this year,” she said.
“It seems very busy right now,” Evan said. “Every week is something new.”
Conner’s and Evan’s grandparents, Lil and Paul Flynn, donated a lot of materials for their grandsons’ Eagle Scout projects, and were at the school every time the boys worked on it, Angie said.
“They did a fantastic job,” said Lil. “They’re good boys, and they’ll go places.”