“On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.” 

At the beginning of each meeting of Boy Scout Troop 72, sophomore Drake Morris leads his troop in saying the Scout Law. This is what his role as Senior Patrol Officer consists of; leading the scouts and taking charge as a leader. 

“He’s really outgoing,” said Scout Master Nathan Bright. “I like his leadership style, he just kind of gets into it and then just tries to get all the other kids excited and stuff like that.”

Morris starts each meeting with a leading of the scout law followed by updates about events in the troop. Morris commands the room with the help of his assistants, sophomore Andrew Head and sophomore Ryan Simerda. They communicate with scout master Bright as well as parent volunteers to make sure that the troop is organized and scheduled. 

Once Morris reached the fourth rank of Boy Scouts, First Class, he was eligible to run for  Senior Patrol Officer. The position of Senior Patrol Officer is selected through an election conducted by the Scout Master Bright. Morris was up against Head and was voted in by scouts in his troop. 

“He’s really just like the figurehead of the troop,” Simerda said. “He makes sure everything is running smoothly in front of the scene and behind the scene. He’s like a role model for many of the younger scouts to go out to and ask for help and even some of the older scouts.”

Along with being a leader for the group, Morris is also a role model for younger scouts. Troop 72 consists of scouts ranging from age 11 to 17.

 “I like the leadership that it presents,” Morris said. “You have more responsibility as a senior patrol officer because you’re actually facilitating what everyone else has to do in the troop.”

As for Morris, he hopes to continue through the scout program until he graduates from North. 

“I think even if he’s nervous about something, he just puts that inside of them and puts on a good face and just goes for it,” Bright said. “So, I think he’s a bit fearless in that way.