Tippett Soars To Eagle Status

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Vidalia High School Senior Trace Tippett started his last school year with excitement, as he officially became an Eagle Scout during a ceremony at the Dr. Mark and Tonya Spivey Public Library on Saturday, August 2.

Tippett is a longtime scout and has a family legacy of being an Eagle Scout, as his older brothers, uncle, and great uncle were also all Eagle Scouts. “Both of my older brothers were Eagle Scouts,” he explained. “I like what we do, and I enjoy the camping trips we go on.”

He shared that scouting had taught him several things throughout his life, as he participated in community service activities and other opportunities. When asked about what skills he felt like he gained through the program, Tippett replied, “Social skills, survivability skills, and anything outdoors, really. It’s such a wide range of things, it’s hard to remember it all. I have everything from climbing merit badges to salesman merit badges.

He continued, “We do all kind of events and things, like Wreaths Across America. It teaches you all kinds of life skills. If I ever get stranded in the woods, I’m going to be able to make do. We also do cool stuff, like whitewater rafting, ziplining, and things like that.”

Tippett agreed that being a scout had reminded him of the importance of community continued from page

service, as he is very active volunteering in the community with both Boy Scout Troop 939 and the Vidalia High School Beta Club. “I definitely volunteer whenever I’m needed, even if it’s not to do with scouts or any other club,” he added.

Some of Tippett’s favorite memories of scouting are the out-of-state trips which Troop 939 has taken. “We go visit the U.S.S. Yorktown in Charleston, South Carolina. It is an aircraft carrier from World War II that is retired. It was one of three in World War II and they parked it there. We spend the night on it, and eat on the ship and tour it. We sleep in the bunks that they did when they were stationed on the ship, so that’s pretty cool. They have a Vietnam experience and stuff like that there as well, so that’s definitely one of my favorites,” he shared. “Ziplining in Nantahala, North Carolina, was another favorite of mine. It was a two-mile zipline over this big gorge – it was just crazy.”

Tippett’s rise to Eagle Scout rank marks the end of a long journey, which he stated has greatly prepared him for the future. When asked what being an Eagle Scout means to him, Tippett emphasized, “[Being an Eagle Scout] just shows that I can stick to something and finish it all the way through. I have been working on it since I was around 11 years-old. Most people don’t have the selfdisipline to sit there and get it all done, but I got it done with a couple extra months to spare.”

He also spoke about his inspiration to stay active in the troop and continue working for the goal. “Really, it’s just a mindset. If you get it in your head that you don’t want to do it or have plenty of other stuff to do, you’re not going to finish. We do all kinds of service, so during the hurricane, we were out doing service. It’s mainly just that people have other stuff going on that they let get in the way, but really and truly, they don’t realize how much more scouting can benefit them for the rest of their lives,” Tippett said.

To become an Eagle Scout, Tippett had to complete a community service project in which he showcased his skills and love for his community. For his project, Tippett worked on the landscaping at the Altama Museum of Art & History, as he worked to level the land and installed flower beds, a brick patio, and a bench.

“My dad’s construction company actually built the new deck on the back of the Altama Museum – I actually helped to build that, too. They needed some landscaping, so I was happy to help,” he remarked.

After completing his project, Tippett was officially declared an Eagle Scout on Monday, May 5. He celebrated the accomplishment with the ceremony on Saturday, August 2, where he thanked his family and former Scoutmaster Kim Stephens for their help throughout his journey as a scout. When asked what advice he would share to children or parents entering scouting, Tippett said, “Have a good time, learn a lot. For parents putting their kids in it – it definitely put me in front of other children my age in so many ways.” “I’ve learned so much. I’ve done it so long that I don’t know what life is like without it,” he concluded.

SCOUT’S OATH – Trace Tippett recites the Scout Oath during the ceremony on Saturday, August 2.Photo by Evan Riekhof

THANKING HIS FORMER SCOUTMASTER – Trace Tippett (right) thanks former Boy Scout Troop 939 Scoutmaster Kim Stephens (left) during the Eagle Scout Ceremony.Photo by Evan Riekhof

FAMILY TRADITION – Both of Trace Tippett’s older brothers, his uncle, and his great uncle were all Eagle Scouts. His father also serves as the Boy Scout Troop 939 Scoutmaster. L to R: Trace Tippett, Scoutmaster Win Tippett.Photo by Evan Riekhof

PINNING HIS MOTHER – Trace Tippett (left) pins his mother Kelly Tippett (right) during the Eagle Scout ceremony.Photo by Evan Riekhof