By Laurel Thoreson

Special to the Herald

On the lacrosse field, they are Falcons, but off the field, they are leaders, active participants in the community and service-oriented Eagle Scouts.

Since the varsity boys lacrosse team was first introduced to Fuqua School six years ago, there has been a unique connection between the team and Eagle Scouts. Several former and current team members, in addition to the coaches, have been members of the Boy Scouts of America program and have earned the distinct honor of being named an Eagle Scout.

In the BSA program, Eagle Scout is the highest rank a participant can achieve. The requirements to obtain this rank are extensive, including earning more than 21 merit badges and participating in other tasks and projects. Only about four percent of participants will achieve the honor during their time in the Boy Scouts, and only approximately 2.5 million people have ever received this distinction since the inception of the program in 1911.

Earning the Eagle Scout rank takes years to achieve, and similarly, lacrosse takes years to master. Both pursuits require discipline and countless hours of dedication.

The Fuqua boys lacrosse program has only had 26 players in the time that it has functioned as a team, and so far, there have been seven players on the team to receive the rank.

Falcons Head Coach Patrick Murphy and former Coach Derek Fimian were both Eagle Scouts. Murphy, a former scoutmaster of Troop 6516, sees a clear connection between lacrosse and Eagle Scouts and is happy that students are able to make time for both.

“We even altered our practice schedule so that the boys had Monday nights off to attend Boy Scouts meetings,” Murphy said.

He admires the dedication the boys have, not only to the sport of lacrosse but to their community and service to others.

“Their determination as student-athletes and citizen leaders makes them one in a million, and we have been blessed with seven of them,” he said. “I am so proud of the guys’ accomplishments and growth on the field, but what they do in the community is even more impressive.”

Current students Isaac Drummond, Andrew Horton, Andrew Murphy and Jeremiah

Thorne, and former students Stephen Horton, Curtis Rogers and Guy Wall received the Eagle Scout rank. Three of the seven students completed their required service projects at Fuqua.

One team captain this year, Andrew Murphy, chose to complete a Veteran’s Day flag-retiring project.

“I felt it was important to honor our veterans and educate our community on the sacrifices our veterans have made,” he said. “Showing the proper way to retire a flag is rarely seen by Americans but is an important way to honor our veterans who gave their lives. I hope our community now has a better sense of patriotism.”

Fuqua aims to help students discover their “Boundless Individual Potential.” Through lacrosse and Boy Scouts, some students have been able to find what they are passionate about, all while discovering their place in the community and opportunities to serve others.

Horton, a team captain, said, “I learned a lot through becoming an Eagle Scout, and being a lacrosse player added a lot of the teachings of teamwork that I could apply to that journey.”

John Melton, head of Fuqua School, participated in the BSA program as well and is familiar with the amount of work the students do to succeed.

“I have seen many of these young men in action, both on the lacrosse field and at scouting events,” Melton said. “In both settings, they demonstrate its core values of honesty, responsibility and commitment that are held high by both Fuqua School and the Boy Scouts of America.”