News

Eagle Scout Joe Tanner has been inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, continuing a remarkable journey shaped by leadership, service, and exploration. Scouting played a major role in the Tanner family legacy. Joe Tanner and his four brothers all earned the rank of Eagle Scout, while their father devoted many years as a dedicated Scouting volunteer. The values learned through Scouting are clearly reflected in Tanner’s extraordinary career and accomplishments.

One of the ways Scouts fulfill their promise “to help other people at all times” is through meaningful community service projects that bring people together and make a lasting impact. Once again this year, Scouts from Troop 1344 (Girls), sponsored by the Apple Valley Property Owners Association in Howard, joined with several Scouts from Troop 344 (Boys) to complete a major cleanup project at Faith Lutheran Church in Mount Vernon, Ohio.

When Vincenzo DiLuna began planning his Eagle Scout service project, he knew he wanted to create something that would have a real impact on his community. That vision led him to Horsemanship 4 Heroes, a nonprofit in Reno, Nevada, dedicated to helping veterans navigate PTSD, anxiety, and depression through equine-assisted therapy and mentorship. After learning the organization needed an obstacle course to help veterans build confidence and trust while riding horses, Vincenzo found the perfect project.

The results of a new research study, “Eagle Scouts: A Legacy of Values-Based Leadership and Service,” were shared during the 2026 National Annual Meeting. Scouting America partnered with The Harris Poll to survey thousands of adults and study how Eagle Scouts compare to people who have not participated in Scouting. The results of this survey help demonstrate the strong advantage Eagle Scouts gain and provide a powerful message about the value of Scouting to prospective members and donors.

Attorney David Winterton was in the middle of cross-examining a witness when he suddenly collapsed to the floor after suffering cardiac arrest. Within seconds, opposing counsel Matt Johnson rushed to his side. Johnson quickly realized Winterton had stopped breathing and had no pulse. Drawing on CPR training he learned as an 11-year-old Scout more than four decades earlier, he immediately began chest compressions, despite never having performed CPR in a real-life emergency.

What starts as a search for belonging can turn into something much bigger. When triplets Janna, Zeina, and Anhar moved to Georgia, they joined Scouting America looking for connection. What they found was leadership, adventure, and a community that quickly felt like home. Through campouts, whitewater rafting trips, and leadership programs like National Youth Leadership Training and National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience at the Summit Bechtel Reserve, they didn’t just participate, they led.

Circle Ten Council recently held its annual fundraising luncheon, where one local man was recognized for his quick, lifesaving actions during a critical moment. The highlight of the program was the recognition of Justin Parsons, who stepped in to help a woman who began choking during an event hosted by L3Harris Technologies. As others called 911, Parsons relied on first-aid skills he had learned as a Scout and immediately performed the Heimlich maneuver until the obstruction was cleared and the woman could breathe again.

In 1996, as part of his Eagle Scout service project, Jeremy Gneiting organized a fundraiser to install a community sign for Grant, Idaho. A Fourth of July breakfast with donated food resulted in a sign that helped define the community for decades. That same sign is being replaced, and Gneiting is once again involved alongside a group of local residents leading the effort.

Scouting alum Janet Braun was honored earlier this month as one of Rep. Judy Chu’s 2026 Congressional Women of the Year, recognized alongside nine outstanding women from across the California San Gabriel Valley for their service and leadership. Braun, elected to the City Council in 2022 and serving as mayor in 2025, has a long record of public service. Her leadership includes serving as chair of the Planning and Public Safety Commissions and active involvement in civic and women’s leadership organizations. She has also supported voter protection and turnout efforts and contributed to numerous local institutions.

Jayden Woodson is showing what servant leadership truly looks like. Living with sickle cell anemia himself, Jayden chose to turn his personal experience into an act of compassion and support for other families facing the same challenge. As part of his Eagle Scout service project, he created comfort kits for parents whose children are receiving treatment for sickle cell disease at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU.

Here’s another powerful reminder of how Scouting prepares young people to lead and serve when it matters most. Life Scout Mady Wilsing of Scouts BSA Troop 114 in Ivy, Virginia, was recently honored for her heroic actions after saving the life of a 3-year-old child at a local pool. Drawing on her training and staying calm under pressure, Mady immediately dove into the water, rescued the unresponsive child, and began lifesaving care until paramedics arrived.

The Chicopee City Council recently recognized Eagle Scout Bryce Holmes of Hadley, Massachusetts Troop 303 for his resilience, service, and dedication to Scouting. A lifelong Chicopee resident and member of the Western Massachusetts Council, Holmes remained active in Scouting and school while undergoing three years of chemotherapy for inoperable brain cancer.