Baylor junior John Carlson is one of four finalists in the country for a national award in recognition of his Eagle Scout leadership service project of creating an outdoor Stations of the Cross walking path at St. Augustine Catholic Church on Signal Mountain where Carlson is a parishioner.
Each year, local councils select a council-level winner, and from that pool, each region selects a winner. The Southern Region includes 13 states – Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Virginia, Arkansas, and Georgia, and a national winner is then selected from the four regional finalists.
John, who joined the Boy Scouts at age 11 and became an Eagle Scout at 15, won the award for the Cherokee Council before receiving the region prize, which included a plaque, a gold medal, and $500 to be used for a scouting pursuit.
“To be chosen as one of only four finalists in the nation is awesome. The three representatives from the council that gave me the award at the Court of Honor said it was the Cherokee Council’s only regional winner since their involvement with the Boy Scouts, which is over 30 years. I was very excited,” said John, adding that the parishioners of St. Augustine are making use of his project. “I see folks there almost every Friday. And the church is adding some enhancements to it as well, making it even nicer.”