The highest award obtainable from the Boy Scouts of America organization will be presented to two Peachtree Corners youths.

Patrick Samuel Chapin and Jonathan Marshall Edwards will receive the Eagle Award in a Court of Honor presentation at Mary Our Queen Catholic Church on Sunday, August 5, 2012.

Patrick and Jonathan have led parallel scouting careers.  They began their journey as Tiger Cubs in Pack 525, chartered to Simpsonwood United Methodist Church.  Together the boys progressed through all five ranks of Cub Scouts, also earning their Parvuli Dei (Children of God) religious award and the highest honor of Cub Scouting, the Arrow of Light.

They then advanced through all ranks of Boy Scouting as members of Troop 525 of Simpsonwood United Methodist Church.  Troop 525 has been making a difference in our community since 1984.

Patrick, the son of Bob and Jenny Chapin, receives the award after earning 26 merit badges and completing his service project: the design and creation of an outdoor youth gathering site for class instruction and future recreation use on the grounds of Mary Our Queen Catholic Church. 

The project required 95 hours of work and the participation of 28 Scouts, parishioners, family members and friends.
In Troop 525, Patrick has held the positions of Den Chief to Cub Scout Pack 525, patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, and senior patrol leader. 

He was inducted into the prestigious Order of the Arrow, and attended BSA’s high adventure camp at Sea Base in the Florida Keys.  Recently Patrick served as the chaplain for Crew 608-F-2’s 84-mile trek at another high adventure camp, Philmont Scout Reservation in Cimarron, New Mexico.

This Norcross High School senior is active in the Norcross Players drama program, National Honor Society, Thespian Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Student Council, Norcross Student Leadership Team, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Relay for Life, and the Blue Crew. Upon graduation, Patrick plans to attend college in the southeast.

Jonathan, the son of Steve and Linda Edwards, receives the award after earning 23 merit badges and completing his service project: the renovation of the Stations of the Cross path at Mary Our Queen Catholic Church in Peachtree Corners.

Jonathan led Troop 525 scouts, adult leaders, and other volunteers in the execution of the project that took 4 days and more than 100 hours to complete. 

Jonathan has held several leadership positions in Troop 525 including Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Instructor and Den Chief. He is currently the Senior Patrol Leader for the Troop. 

In addition, Jonathan recently served as the Assistant Crew Chief and navigator for Crew 608-F-1 during their 12 day,  84 mile trek at the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico.

Additional highlights of Jonathan’s scouting career include spending 5 days on a remote island in the Florida Keys at another of  the BSA’s High Adventure Camps, Sea Base. In 2009, Jonathan hiked 100 miles in Scotland on the West Highland Way with 15 fellow scouts and leaders from Troop 525 and 6 scouts from a local Troop in Scotland.

This Greater Atlanta Christian High School Senior is a member of their musical theater group "Visions." He is also an active member of Beta Club, Drama Club and the National Honor Society. 

Jonathan’s spirit of service extends beyond scouts and his local community.  He has participated in mission trips with Seven Bridges in Atlanta, Operation Nehemiah in New Orleans, City of Children in Mexico and Casas por Christo in Guatemala.

In addition, Jonathan is on the swim and water polo teams at GACS. Upon graduation, Jonathan plans to attend college in the Southeast.

The fact that a boy is an Eagle Scout has always carried with it a special significance, not only in Scouting but also as he enters higher education, business or industry, and community service.

The award is a performance-based achievement whose standards have been well maintained over the years. Not every boy who joins a Boy Scout troop earns the Eagle Scout rank; only about 5 percent of all Boy Scouts do so.

This represents more than two million Boy Scouts who have earned the rank since 1912. Nevertheless, the goals of Scouting—citizenship training, character development, and personal fitness—remain important for all Scouts, whetheror not they attain the Eagle Scout rank.

Troop 525 is in the Button Gwinnett District which is a geographic area of the Atlanta Area Council, Boy Scouts of America.  The Council, founded in 1916, provides character education through high outdoor adventure to young men, and women, throughout its 13 metro county area. 

The mission of the Boy Scouts is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.  The Atlanta Area Council, Boy Scouts of America salute Patrick Chapin and Jonathan  Edwards for their great achievements! For more information on Scouting visit www.atlantabsa.org or call 770-989-8820.