Three scouts from Troup 7 earn Eagle status

Caleb Griggs, Noah Stanley and Thomas Chaplin have earned the Boy Scouts of America’s highest recognition, the rank of Eagle Scout. The scouts were recognized on Sept. 7 in a National Court of Honor for Boy Scout Troop 7 presided over by Scoutmaster Jeff Scott. Troop 7 is a club chartered by Lakeview Baptist Church.

Caleb Grant Griggs, son of Bryan and Teri Griggs, is a freshman at Florence-Darlington Technical College majoring in electronic engineering technology. Caleb carried out his Eagle service project at Sugarloaf Mountain Recreation area in Chesterfield. He and his fellow scouts completed a 40-plus hour project painting the signs and waterproofing the picnic tables for others to enjoy. Caleb is also an Ordeal member of the Order of the Arrow, which is recognized as scouting’s National Honor Society. Caleb has been a member of Troop 7 for more than seven years and has earned a total of 22 merit badges.

William Noah Elliot Stanley is the son of Billy Stanley and the late Paula Stanley. He is a freshman at Tri-County Technical College in Clemson. Noah carried out his Eagle service project at Lakeview Baptist Church. Noah led his fellow scouts and volunteer adults in a 100-plus hour project, which consisted of obtaining the materials and supervising the group to remove and replace the roof of the Mission House at Lakeview Baptist Church. Noah has also been a member of Troop 7 for more than seven years and has earned a total of 21 merit badges.

Thomas Graves Chaplin III, son of Thomas and Vicki Chaplin, is a freshman at Clemson University majoring in agricultural mechanization and business. Thomas carried out his Eagle service project at Kalmia Gardens in Hartsville. Thomas led his fellow scouts and adult volunteers to clear an area and constructed planter boxes to be used for an instructional program for 4-H Club members. During the summer of 2007, Thomas attended Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico, where he enjoyed an unforgettable 67-plus mile backpacking experience over several mountain peaks 11,000 or more feet in height. Thomas is also a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow, which is recognized as scouting’s National Honor Society. Thomas has been a member of Troop 7 for more than six years and earned a total of 27 merit badges.

Troop 7 extends an invitation for any young man in the Hartsville community ages 11-17 to join them in the Boy Scouts of America, the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. The troop meets 6 p.m. Sundays at Lakeview Baptist Church.