Scouts improve community, rise in rank
James Cole Hopkins
James Cole Hopkins earned the rank of Eagle Scout on in February at the Vulcan District Board of Review. He is a member of Troop 320 at Mountain Brook Presbyterian.
James started his scouting career with Pack 63 in the first grade and advanced through Cub Scouts to earn its highest award, The Arrow of Light and then joined Troop 320. While a member of Troop 320, he was tapped into the scouts’ most prestigious honor society,
The Order of the Arrow. James also earned the Triple Crown Award given for participating in all three scout high adventure trips to Sea Base, Bahamas, Philmont, New Mexico and Northern Tier, Canada.
His Eagle Scout project was to refurbish and restore a LATH House at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, where his mother and grandmother are tour docents. This project gives a place for plants to grow and acclimate to the outside environment before they are planted out in the gardens.
With the help of family members, friends, neighbors and other scouts, James repaired the roof, replaced sections of rotten wood and built a new wooden perimeter around the house. Also, new support beams were added; floors were cleared, leveled and graveled with new weed mats installed; and an overhead irrigation system was installed. The project totaled 238 hours of work and was also highlighted in the Birmingham Botanical Gardens yearly staff meeting.
James attends Mountain Brook High School. Outside of school, he served several times as a special needs camp counselor for the Full Life Ahead Foundation as well as a counselor in training for Falling Creek Camp in Tuxedo, N.C. James is also active in Big Time Ministries and his senior high Episcopal youth Bible study, and serves as a church acolyte for the Cathedral Church of the Advent. James comes from a very long line of scouts and leaders, including his great uncle, Winning A. Currie, who has a chapel at Scout Camp Sequoya named in his honor. James’ uncle also serves as a scout leader with Troop 63.
An avid hunter and fisherman, James’ scouting career has enriched his love for the outdoors. He is the son of Marguerite and Peter Hopkins.
John Edward Sisson
John Edward Sisson earned the rank of Eagle Scout from the Vulcan District Eagle Board in March.
He is a member of Boy Scout Troop 63 at Canterbury Methodist Church, under the leadership of Harold Wells Jr. A Court of Honor ceremony was held in April to recognize Sisson’s achievements.
For his Eagle service project, Sisson built a garden shed for the community garden at East Lake United Methodist Church. This community garden serves the surrounding East Lake neighborhood.
As a member of Troop 63, John earned 22 merit badges. He attended Sewanee Scout Leadership School and served as patrol leader, quartermaster, and most recently as senior patrol leader.
Sisson is a rising junior at Mountain Brook High School where he plays on the baseball team and runs cross country. He is a member of Key Club Service organization and is a member of the Sword and Shield newspaper staff. Sisson is an active member of Canterbury United Methodist Church youth group and serves on its LEAD team.
John is the son of Leigh Ann and Tommy Sisson. He is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. James L. Caldwell and the late Mr. Joe Alexander, and the grandson of Mrs. Laura B. Sisson and the late Dr. Jerry E. Sisson and Mrs. Martha Ann Sisson.
Carlton ‘Ford’ Wood
Carlton “Ford” Wood of Troop 63 at Canterbury United Methodist Church has achieved the highest rank in Boy Scouts, Eagle Scout.
As a scout, Ford has served as troop chaplain and patrol leader and was inducted in the Order of the Arrow. He also attended two Boy Scout High Adventure camps, where he backpacked at at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico and canoed the boundary waters between Minnesota and Canada at Northern Tier.
Ford’s Eagle Scout service project involved building and installing two information kiosks at Birmingham’s Red Mountain Park, one at the park entrance and one at the #13 mine.
In addition to his scouting activities, Ford is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Key Club and the Mountain Brook High School varsity tennis team.
Ford is the son of Mary Beth and Carlton Wood. He is the grandson of Glenda Alexander Parker Dendy of Tuscaloosa and the late David O. Parker Jr. and Carlton E. Wood Jr. of Huntley, Ill., and the late Patricia Waite Wood.