Why Others Are Incredibly Inspired by This Eagle Scout’s Cheerfulness

Story contributed by Taylor Olmstead, Marketing Coordinator at the Atlanta Area Council

David S. is an Eagle Scout from Johns Creek, Georgia. But you probably know him as the dancing Equipment Manager cheering on the Clemson Tigers from the sidelines.

Long before he was dabbing in the locker room or passing out Gatorade during time-outs, David was a Cub Scout. His father, Bob, was a bit nervous about sending him on his first camping trip. David has Down’s Syndrome, and Bob was afraid that other Scouts might not understand how to interact with him. However, David made plenty of friends in the pack and quickly had a waiting list for tent mates on outings.

Over the years, David and his family became a central part of Troop 143 at John’s Creek UMC. Scouts and leaders alike were inspired by David’s cheerfulness. Everywhere he went, David made new friends and exemplified the Scout Law to others.

David earned the Eagle Scout rank and graduated high school. He moved to Clemson, South Carolina and enrolled in the Clemson Life program. There he has learned important life skills, continued his studies and taken up a part time job. When he’s not in class or at work, you can almost always find David on the field with the football team.

Coach Dabo Swinney took David under his wing early on, and the two have been close friends for years now. Coach Swinney always expects David at practices, games and team meetings. Together they’ve cheered the Tigers on from the sidelines and are pushing the team towards a championship in 2017.

David was awarded the Scout Role Model Award at this year’s Peach of an Athlete Role Model Awards Banquet. In his speech he emphasized the importance of keeping a positive attitude regardless of your situation. A Scout is Cheerful, and David embodies that cheerfulness both on the field and off.

Scouting Wire would like to thank Taylor Olmstead of the Atlanta Area Council for submitting this story.