While the Chick-fil-A ‘Triple A’ focuses mainly on academics, athletics, and achievements, you can add an ‘S’ to Makoto Hiter’s resume — service.
The Trigg County junior stays busy both on the field and off.
Hiter is a starter on Trigg County’s soccer team, logging a full 80 minutes nearly every game. Soccer is a sport Hiter has played since he was five.
“It’s something I’ve played since I was young, and something I like to do,” he said. “I think my dribbling is my strength.”
Off the field, Hiter is an Eagle Scout and completed a major service project in the spring. Hiter and Boy Scout Troop 2057 cleared the River Front Walking Trail in downtown Cadiz.
The trail was a pet project of former Mayor Jim Ricks nearly 25 years ago. The trail begins on lower Marion Street and winds through the wooded area near where the city’s spring empties into the Little River. A wooden bridge was constructed near the spring. The trail ends near the Little River Bridge at the South Road.
Over the years, the trail fell into disrepair and a lack of continued maintenance by the city. It also fell victim to vandalism.
“It’s a beautiful place. It upset me that it wasn’t being taken care of and people weren’t using it,” Hiter said. “More people should be using the trail because it’s a unique place in our county.”
The boy scout troop spent nearly 90 hours on the project with Hiter estimating he worked 17 hours to cut back and clear brush and rehab the trail.
Other scout projects Hiter has been involved with include the construction of birdhouses for the Cadiz United Methodist Church and the walking trail.
In the classroom, Hiter ranks near the top of his class with straight ‘A’s and has scored a 32 on his ACT. While he hasn’t decided on the college, Hiter said he may retake the ACT to improve on what is already a lofty score.
