Joshua McGougan

Joshua McGougan

We are pleased to place our student spotlight on a TCS Student who has accomplished something that only four percent of the fifty-two million young men participating in the Boy Scouts of America over the past 100 years have accomplished, the achieving the rank of an Eagle Scout.  

Senior Joshua McGougan, son of Marshall and Helen McGougan, has been at Tabernacle since he was in preschool, a total of 16 years. While he enjoys playing both soccer and baseball with the TCS Rams, his favorite sport is basketball, and he has had the privilege of being an active player on one of the best basketball teams in Tabernacle’s forty-two year history. Joshua also excels academically and is a member of the TCS Chapter of the National Beta Club and the National Christian Honor Society. In addition, Joshua is a member of the Order or the Arrow, an honor society for the Boy Scouts. His favorite subject is Science.

Joshua has participated in scouting for the past twelve years, during which time he has consistently exhibited determination to succeed and faithfulness to duty. As a result, he has now reached a level the Scouts themselves proclaim as “Merit Beyond the Badge,” the rank of Eagle Scout. His Eagle Scout ceremony was held at the First Presbyterian Church of Monroe, NC, on August 20, 2016, at 5:00 p.m. TCS principal Mrs. Susan Boulton had the honor of speaking at this event. Other speakers included Joshua’s former pastor Dr. Robert Hunter, his youth leader Mr. Billy Spencer, and his baseball coach Mr. Thomas Starnes. The Master of Ceremonies was Mr. Bruce Robinson. His Scout Master Mac McFarland officiated as well. Tabernacle Alumni Trey Mcgougan was part of the ceremony as were other members of Boy Scout Troop 1.

In addition to other invited guests, many of Joshua’s friends from TCS turned out for the event. Approximately fifty of his teachers, friends, and their parents joined the celebration for a grand total of one hundred twenty five in attendance.

Becoming an Eagle Scout is an arduous process that requires the following steps:

  • Progressing through the ranks in the following order: Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle

  • Being active in one’s troop, team, crew, or ship for a period of at least six months after achieving the rank of Life Scout.

  • Demonstrating one lives by the principles of the Scout Oath and Scout Law in daily life. Applicants must list on the Eagle Scout Rank Application the names of individuals who know them personally and would be willing to provide a recommendation on their behalf. The list includes parents/guardians, religious, educational, and employer references.

  • Earning a total of 21 merit badges (or ten more than the applicant has), including the following: (a) First Aid, (b) Citizenship in the Community, © Citizenship in the Nation, (d) Citizenship in the World, (e) Communication, (f) Cooking, (g) Personal Fitness, (h) Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving, (i) Environmental Science OR Sustainability, (j) Personal Management, (k) Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling, (l) Camping, and (m) Family Life.

  • While a Life Scout, serving actively in one’s unit for a period of six months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility:

    • Boy Scout troop. Patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader, Venture patrol leader, troop guide, Order of the Arrow troop representative, den chief, scribe, librarian, historian, quartermaster, junior assistant Scoutmaster, chaplain aide, instructor, webmaster, or Leave No Trace trainer.
    • Varsity Scout team. Captain, co-captain, program manager, squad leader, team secretary, Order of the Arrow team representative, librarian, historian, quartermaster, chaplain aide, instructor, den chief, webmaster, or Leave No Trace trainer.
    • Venturing crew/ship. President, vice president, secretary, treasurer, quartermaster, historian, den chief, guide, boatswain, boatswain’s mate, yeoman, purser, storekeeper, webmaster, or Leave No Trace trainer.
    • Lone Scout. Leadership responsibility in his school, religious organization, club, or elsewhere in his community.

  • While a Life Scout, planning, developing, and giving leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or the scout’s community.

  • Taking part in a unit leader conference.

  • Successfully completing an Eagle Scout board of review.

Joshua accomplished his service project by funding and building a prayer garden at the Polkton Baptist Church. We thank Joshua for choosing to do his service project for this church and for his willingness to serve others. Joshua is a fine young man. We are proud of his accomplishments and look forward to hearing of his future accomplishments as he continues to serve his God and fellow man.
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