Three Eagle Scouts with MTSU ties — retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Huber of the Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center; alumnus and Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron; and Board of Trustees member J.B. Baker — took part Friday, Feb. 1, in a ceremony by the Middle Tennessee Council, Boy Scouts of America to welcome girls into its youth program.
The trio participated in the event organized by the council at the Rutherford County Courthouse on Feb. 1 — the day when girls nationwide could join Scouts BSA, the new name for the program for youth from ages 11 to 17.
MTSU signed a partnership agreement with the council in March 2018 that allows the university to be a greater resource for Scouting programs, particularly in science and technology.
Huber, MTSU’s senior advisor for veterans and leadership initiatives, led the new scouts in the Pledge of Allegiance and spoke about the significance of the ceremony, saying that the girls, as founding members of Troop 2019, are making history with their commitment to be among the first girls to join Scouts BSA.
Ketron, a member of the council’s executive board, invited troop leaders to hold the ceremony at the historic courthouse. He joined representatives from scout units across the Trail of Tears District, which includes Rutherford County, in congratulating the new members of Scouts BSA.
Baker, who also is a member of the council board and CEO and owner of Sprint Logistics, formally congratulated the girls on behalf of the university. Baker led the new scouts in reading of the Outdoors Code.
Each of the 16 girls signed a charter document that listed them as founding members of the troop. After signing the charter document, each girl received a neckerchief from her parents and a copy of the new Scouts BSA Handbook from Scoutmaster Kevin Phillips.
Although MTSU will provide program support to the troop through its partnership with the council, the men’s ministry of Trinity United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro is the unit’s chartering organization and will provide meeting space and oversee the unit.
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