Seven Mount Vernon seniors have earned the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts of America. With just four percent of all scouts reaching the level of Eagle Scout, these remarkable young men achieved the highest rank through hard work; in fact, each of them spent more than a decade of persistent effort serving the community.
On Monday, January 24 before a large crowd of family, students, and faculty, Connor Hughes, Jacob Buck, Daniel Ward, AJ Whitney, James McGuire, Steven Butz, and Jonathan Gardner were celebrated and formally recognized as a part of Troop 463’s Eagle Court of Honor ceremony held in the sanctuary of Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church.
The requirements to become an Eagle Scout include earning at least 21 merit badges and completing an extensive service project – the Eagle Project – which the Scout plans, organizes, leads and manages. Once all requirements are met, they must complete an Eagle Scout board of review. Finally, the Eagle Scout is celebrated and honored with a medal and a badge to publicly recognize his accomplishments.
Led by their scout leader, Wayne Miller, Mount Vernon’s Eagle Scouts completed a combined total of 1,105 service hours through their projects benefitting Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church, MVPS, and the Sandy Springs community. The young mens’ projects and some of their accomplishments are outlined below. Two additional students in Mount Vernon’s class of 2017, Ian Cox and Alex Walsh, have completed their Eagle projects; they’re currently working toward the review process of becoming Eagle scouts.
Connor Hughes – 209th Eagle Scout
Designed and led a project at Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church in which he planted new plants and constructed a gravel pathway outside of a building called Gailey Hall.
Accomplishments
- recently qualified for state in swimming
- as a member of Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church, traveled to Zambia to perform missionary work
- volunteers with Los Niños Primero teaching children how to swim
- Upper School Band member
- MVPS sports: runs cross country & plays baseball
- serves as a Student Admissions Ambassador
- Colt Club member
- Head of School list recipient
Jacob Buck – 210th Eagle Scout
His Eagle Scout Project was designing and constructing large chalkboard walls within Mount Vernon Presbyterian School meant to inspire and serve as the community’s “When I Grow Up” bucket lists.
Accomplishments
- Admissions Ambassador Prefect
- treasurer for National Honor Society
- interned with Spaceworks
- counselor at Camp High Harbour
- AP Scholar with Distinction
- Awarded MVPS Star Student 2017
- Upper School Band member
- graduate of Youth Leadership Sandy Springs
- Colt club member
- MVPS sports: runs cross country
- Head of School list recipient
Daniel Ward – 211th Eagle Scout
Designed, restored and landscaped of a section of the Mount Vernon Presbyterian School Cross Country Trail.
Accomplishments
- Serves as a cadet with the Civil Air Patrol/Rank: Lieutenant Colonel Commander
- earned professional pilot’s license
- awarded the Billy Mitchell, Amelia Earhart, and Ira C. Eaker awards (less than 5% of cadets qualify for this award)
- teaches classes on aerospace and aviation to younger students
- Runs cross country and plays soccer
- Colt Club member
- Head of School list recipient
AJ Whitney – 212th Eagle Scout
For his Eagle Project, he restored the exterior of the youth building at Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church (Gailey Hall).
Accomplishments
- National Honor Society President
- with Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church, traveled to Zambia to perform missionary work
- participated in cultural immersion program in Spain
- Art Club President
- graduate of Youth Leadership Sandy Springs
- MVPS sports: cross country, swimming, and tennis
- Colt Club member
- Head of School list recipient
James McGuire – 214th Eagle Scout
Restored and performed landscape improvements at Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church, specifically at Gailey Hall.
Accomplishments
- nationally ranked swimmer & captain of MVPS swim team
- Signed athlete with Miami University in Oxford, Ohio
- head coach of swim team at Huntcliff neighborhood
- volunteers with Los Niños Primero teaching children how to swim
- goal to qualify for the olympics in swimming
- Colt Club member
- Head of School list recipient
Steven Butz– 215th Eagle Scout
Planned and constructed a collapsible sound booth for his church, Sandy Springs Christian Church.
Accomplishments
- All State Symphonic Band member
- Governor’s Honors Program semifinalist in music
- Upper School Band member
- counselor at Camp High Harbour
- performs as a bugler across the country with the Boy Scouts of America
- MVPS sports: cross country, swimming, track
- self-taught in Japanese
- Colt Club member
- Head of School list recipient
Jonathan Gardner – 217th Eagle Scout
As specifically requested by Rusty Paul, Sandy Springs mayor, Jonathan’s service project was an outdoor classroom, centered around an apiary, at Lost Corner Preserve. Seating 30, the classroom serves as a resource where people can teach, learn, or observe.
Accomplishments
- Furman University’s Summer Scholar Program-shadowed medical professionals
- working with the city of Roswell, designed, permitted, and had approved a new skate park in Roswell
- MVPS sports: wrestling, soccer
- Head of School recipient