Freshman earns Eagle Scout Award

Freshman David Thoms was awarded the Eagle Scout Award, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America, at a ceremony at the Rome First United Methodist Church on Dec. 7. He is a member of Troop 113, which is sponsored by the church.  

"The Scouting program emphasizes leadership, citizenship and outdoors skills, and the Eagle award is earned by less than three percent of all Boy Scouts," said Bill Thoms, David's father.

The Eagle award is the culmination of Thoms' involvement in Scouting over the past eight years. A cornerstone of the award is a leadership project, which benefits a local organization. Thoms' project involved assembling birdhouse kits for the Teen Program at the Boys & Girls Club in South Rome. He planned and coordinated with fellow Scouts to cut the wood, pre-drill screw holes and assemble parts for 20 separate bluebird house kits, totaling over 50 man-hours of work. He then gave instruction sessions on how to use the kits to the Club’s staff. The Scouts also assembled and placed a variety of birdhouses on the grounds of the Boys and Girls Club. 

Last August, Thoms attended the National Jamboree marking the100th anniversary of American Boy Scouting. He was a youth leader for one of the groups from Northwest Georgia. He joins his father and brother, Darlington junior Will Thoms, as Eagle Scouts.

Thoms has attended Darlington since 2004. He is a member of the Headmaster's List and plays trombone in the Stadium Band and the Music Conservatory. As an eighth-grader, he earned the Hugh Merson Award for the pursuit of excellence. He is the son of Drs. Lorie and Bill Thoms of Kingston, Ga.