MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS) - Across the country — and even beyond Earth’s atmosphere — the rank of Eagle Scout has quietly shaped some of America’s most recognizable leaders. While only a small percentage of Scouts ever reach the top, those who do often carry the title into careers that influence government, science, business, and culture.

The most famous example is President Gerald R. Ford, the only U.S. president to earn the Eagle badge. His achievement is still celebrated by Scouts nationwide as proof that the path from troop meetings to national leadership is more than just a feel‑good slogan.

The legacy stretches far beyond politics. When Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon in 1969, he brought with him years of Scouting experience from his Ohio troop. Fellow astronauts James Lovell of Apollo 13 and Charles Duke of Apollo 16 also earned the rank, making Eagle Scouts a surprisingly common thread in NASA’s early exploration history.

In the world of business and public service, names like Sam Walton, founder of Walmart, and Rex Tillerson, former Secretary of State and ExxonMobil CEO, credit Scouting with shaping their early leadership skills. J.W. Marriott Jr., who helped expand the Marriott hotel empire, is another Eagle who often speaks about the discipline and responsibility the program instilled.

Filmmaker Steven Spielberg has said his early merit badge projects helped spark his love of storytelling.

Military leaders, including Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, commander of coalition forces during the Gulf War, round out the list of high‑profile Eagles whose careers were shaped by early lessons in service and leadership.

For local Scouts working toward the rank today, these national names serve as a reminder that the Eagle badge isn’t just a milestone — it’s a credential that travels with them for life. Whether they stay close to home or aim for the stars, they’re joining a tradition that has quietly influenced American life for more than a century.

Congratulations to 22 Local Eagle Scouts in 2025

And while those national names show how far the Eagle badge can carry someone, the tradition is just as strong here at home. This year, twenty-two young Scouts from across Rutherford County completed the long, demanding journey to become an Eagle Scout. Their projects, their leadership, and their commitment to service reflect the same values that shaped presidents, astronauts, and innovators — and now they’re adding their own chapters to that legacy.

• Aaron Michael Holman of Troop 422 completed a project of 52 hours, building a gaga ball pit for Thurman Francis Arts Academy.
• Aileen Fajardo of Troop 2019 at Trinity United Methodist completed a project of 70 hours building shelfing to display awards that the Smyrna High School choirs have been receiving over the years. His project also included painting a practice room white to brighten up the room since it was missed in the last repaint of the choir room.
• Amelia Mason a Lone scout completed a project of 65 hours for the benefit of Woodbury First United Methodist Church. His project consisted of beautifying the playground equipment at a local church that helps the youth and others in our community. He and his team washed, repaired, and stained the equipment to make it look nicer and last longer. He and his volunteers also cleaned up and mulched the front bushes to make the church look more put together.  This will impact the church goers, and the youth that use the playground and it now looks a lot better.
• Blake Boldin of Troop 441 at Mars Hill Church of Christ completed a project of 112 hours for the benefit of Riverdale High School that consisted of building an obstacle course for the JROTC.
• Charles H. Young IV of Troop 1380 at Smyrna First United Methodist Church completed a project of 387 hours. Charles partnered with the Hope4Kids Group at First Baptist Church of Tullahoma to serve low-income and foster families. His project involved organizing and creating at least 33 necessity bags filled with essential items to support families in need, making a meaningful and lasting impact in the community.
• Clayten Behrendt of Troop 538 at St Rose of Lima Catholic Church completed a project of 300 hours for the benefit of City of Watertown. His project consisted of building an historic information pavilion for train travelers.
• Colin Sullivan of Troop 106 at First United Methodist Church, Murfreesboro, completed a project of 158 hours for the benefit of Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation that consisted of built 2 arbors, resetting pavers, and removing invasive vegetation in the courtyard of McFadden Community Center.
• David Baker of Troop 441 at Mars Hill Church of Christ completed a project of 103 hours for the benefit of Riverdale High School. David's project consisted of “Tarzan” is a monkey bar set that allows Riverdale High School JROTC cadets on the Raider Team to practice for out of county competitions.
• David he Alvey of Troop 197 at Fellowship United Methodist Church completed a project of 193 hours for the benefit of the Church by refurbishing 15 Picnic Tables.
• Devin Cortes of Troop 3200 at Life Lift Church completed a project of 92 hours for the benefit of VFW Post 8422 that consisted of constructing a flag retirement drop-off box for the community of Smyrna. This project provides a respectful and accessible way for residents to properly retire worn or damaged U.S. flags.
• Everett Allen Shaw of Troop 1108 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church completed a project of 167 hours for the benefit of Lane Agri-Park that consisted of building an informational Kiosk.
• Harrison Hamby of Troop 1108 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church completed a project of 116 hours that consisted of the installation of a pond at Discovery School to serve as an aquatic ecosystem. The pond provides students with a hands-on learning experience as they observe an ecosystem up close instead of only learning about it in the classroom. With the help of Garden of Eden Landscaping and thanks to additional landscaping of Girl Scout Award projects, an empty corner of the school was transformed into a beautiful centerpiece of learning.
• Jacob Preku of Troop 538 at St. Rose of Lima School completed a project of 140 hours renovating platers at a children’s home and transforming outdoor spaces into brighter, more welcoming environment for the residents.
• James Ethan Courtoy of Troop 1108 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church completed a project of 158 hours for the benefit of Isaiah 117 House that consisted of building two wooden benches and a corn hole set designed with their logo. He and his volunteers also purchased a giant Connect 4 game for outside and a baby swing.
• John Thomas Simmons of Troop 1108 at St Paul's Episcopal Church completed a project of 91 hours for the benefit of Hill-Roulhac Family descendants that consisted of placing markers for 24 unmarked graves and restoring a stone wall in the Hill-Roulhac cemetery in La Vergene.
• Joseph Epsy of Troop 1108 at St. Paul's episcopal Church completed a project of 132 hours that consisted of building a display board for trailhead near John Rice Blvd.
• Michael England-Ritter of Troop 2223 in LaVergne completed a project of 127 hours for the benefit of Emanuel Baptist Church which consisted of building a new Gaga Ball pit for the youth there.
• Nathan Gately of Troop 398 at St. Mark's United Methodist Church completed a project of 75 hours for the benefit of Discovery Elementary School that consisted of building a compost bin for the School's garden program.
• Nicholas Held of Troop 538 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church completed a project of 336 hours which consisted of redesigning and decorating Marian grotto at the school
• Nicholas Williams of Troop 374 at Blackman United Methodist Church, completed a project of 44 hours for the benefit of the National Park Service at Stones River National Battlefield to clean 326 headstones.
• Skyler Grove of Troop 3200 at Smyrna Lions Club completed a project of 101 hours for the benefit of North Boulevard Church of Christ that consisted of installing 3 large sunshades and repairing a damaged fence for an outdoor playground.
• Vincent Hillesheim of Troop 1380 at Smyrna First United Methodist Church completed a project of 151 hours for the benefit of Rocky Fork Middle School (Principal Jennifer Clark). At an overgrown cemetery on the school property, Vincent was successfully able to clear much of the brush and dead trees, mark all the graves with temporary PVC markers, and created a sign for the gate so everyone would know it was a cemetery.