Troop 72
Jonathan McMurray
On August 7, 2005 John A. McMurray was honored in a ceremony at Lehman Memorial United Methodist Church in Hatboro for attaining the coveted rank of Eagle Scout. John entered Scouting in 1994 as a Cub Scout in Pack 438, eventually earning the Arrow of Light Award. In 1998 he joined Boy Scout Troop 72 where he has held positions of responsibility including Assistant Patrol Leader, Instructor, Scribe and Quartermaster. He attended the National Scout Jamboree in 2001 and participated in a High Adventure trip in 2004 which involved 11 days of hiking and horseback riding in the vicinity of Pennsylvania’s “Grande Canyon.” He earned 30 merit badges, nine more than required. He was a recipient of the Boy Scout Conservation Award and was elected to the Order of the Arrow. For his Eagle Project he managed a group of over 22 scouts and others who spent 219 man hours collecting, sorting and boxing over 3400 children’s books which were donated to Philadelphia Reads, an organization which provides books free of charge to school libraries and daycare centers.
Outside of Scouts, John has been a good citizen, earning three President’s Student Service Awards for community service. In 2003 he was invited to and attended the Session on International Relations at the National Student Leadership Conference held at American University. He is a member of the Philadelphia Folksong Society and the Delaware Valley Amateur Astronomers. He enjoys playing his guitar, mandolin and other instruments with his friends.
John is a 2005 graduate of Abington High School where he was a president of the Science Club. Over the course of 6 years in junior and senior high school he earned five medals in the Science Olympiad, including a gold medal at the state level. He was a member of teams which won blue ribbons in the Montgomery County Reading Olympics. John was also a member of the Chorus, Writer’s Circle, ACLU Club, Philosophy Club, Ecology Club, Outdoor Club, Anecdote Club and the Ultimate Frisbee Team. For the last four years he was a member of the stage crew for every play and musical which needed a crew.
John has been awarded a 4-year full tuition scholarship by the Robert E. Cook Honors College of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he will be majoring in International Affairs.
To see pictures from the Eagle Court of Honor Ceremony for this scout, click here
