Helping Boy Scouts Become Men
Camping out and American boyhood are inseparable concepts in the folklore of our nation. The feel of fresh morning air, the aroma of fried bacon on an open fire, and the excitement of exploring nature combine to make the outdoor experience a treasured memory. And for many young men, their first experience in the wilderness is closely linked to scouting.
Since its founding over a century ago, the Boys Scouts of America has been the avenue through which over 110 million American youngsters have discovered the wonders of creation — and learned about integrity and true manhood along the way. For many families, the Boy Scout values system — God and country, personal integrity and hard work — is a return to a simpler, more wholesome time.
In line with its mission to help real people in practical ways, the John William Pope Foundation has joined hands with the Boy Scouts in North Carolina. One of the chief ways is through the Pope Family Eagle Scout Scholarship, a program aimed at the most promising Eagle Scouts who are graduating high-school seniors.
The Pope family and the Pope Foundation have invested over $1 million in these promising young men and in the Occoneechee Council. The council is the largest in North Carolina, covering 12 counties in central North Carolina ranging from the Virginia border to near South Carolina.
Inspiring scholars
The mission of the Pope Family Eagle Scout Scholarship is to further the course of study for devoted Eagle Scouts who want to become leaders in business and the free-enterprise system.
On average, four young scouts qualify each year. The scholarship committee that judges their aptitude puts heavy emphasis on extra-curricular activities; stellar academics alone are insufficient to secure the scholarship.
Applicants are required to write an essay on government’s role in society and the free-enterprise system, and then defend their ideas in front of the panel. Faith also plays an important role in the process.
The first class of Pope Family Eagle Scout scholars in 2005 with the Pope Family