All posts by Hayley Cordaro

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About Hayley Cordaro

Hayley Cordaro is a communications specialist at the Boy Scouts of America. She loves sharing inspiring success stories and uncovering new ways volunteers and employees can make the most of their Scouting experience. If you have story ideas or questions, reach out to us at communications@scouting.org.

Boy Scout Saves Baseball Coach Who Suffered a Heart Attack

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Nathan B.,’s Boy Scout training saved his coach’s life after administering CPR and calling 911. (Photo credit: Nick VinZant/ABC15)

Thanks to an Arizona teen’s Boy Scout training and quick-thinking, 26-year-old baseball coach Isaac Wenrich is alive after suffering a massive heart attack last week.

Nathan B., jumped into action to administer the first aid training he learned in Boy Scouts after his coach, Wenrich, collapsed on the field during practice drills.

“He fell flat on his face and then I asked if he was okay and he wasn’t answering, so I grabbed his phone and called 911,” said the 13-year-old.

Nathan credits his Boy Scout training for teaching him how to properly give CPR and be prepared in the event of an emergency.

“I remembered it from the Boy Scouts a couple of years ago,” the teen shared, according to the Inquisitr. “You just lock your hands together and start pushing on their chest.”

The coach’s girlfriend, Katy Huertta, was grateful for the Scout’s heroism and thanked him for rushing to her boyfriend’s aid.

“If he didn’t get CPR he would be gone,” she explained. “He would be dead right now. He’s everything to me. He’s my best friend so thank you, thank you.”

The Scout was able to perform CPR until first responding firefighters arrived at the scene and transported Isaac to the hospital. Katy says Isaac is expected to make a full recovery.

Watch the video below from KNXV to hear Nathan’s account of his life-saving feat.

Learn more about how this young man’s Scout training saved his coach’s life by reading the full story on the Inquisitr.

Eagle Scout Rescues Woman Trapped in Sinking Car

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Eagle Scout John Sidlinger enters the water to help 85-year-old Marie Fitzgerald, trapped in her sinking car. (Photo credit: Dana Jensen/The Day)

Scouts grow older as the years go by, yet the principles and skills they learn from the Boy Scouts of America stick with them for a lifetime, keeping them Prepared. For Life.

Years of emergency prep training came rushing back to 34-year-old Eagle Scout John Sidlinger as he jumped to help a woman trapped inside her sinking car along the Eastern Point Beach in Groton, Conn., yesterday.

Sidlinger was in a nearby parking lot eating lunch with his girlfriend when he spotted a woman struggling to park in a waterside spot. The car suddenly accelerated through the concrete and metal barrier and entered the water.

“I knew I had to go in,” Sidlinger explained to The Day.

The Eagle Scout dashed to the rocky shoreline and attempted to help the woman get out of her car as the water started to fill the interior.

As the water rushed in, the woman was unable to open the door. Sidlinger grabbed a metal pole from the dismantled guardrail to smash the front windshield. He handed the woman the end of the pole, but couldn’t free the woman from the opening.

Sidlinger’s girlfriend called 911 and the police arrived. Groton City Police Lt. Erick Jenkins shattered the passenger side window, opened the door, and freed the woman. Moments after the rescue, the woman’s Honda Civic sank to the bottom.

Thanks to the Eagle Scout’s quick-thinking and emergency training in Scouting, along with the help of local police, the 85-year-old woman was safely transported to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital for observation.

For the complete story of this Eagle Scout’s lifesaving feat, visit The Day to get the scoop.

Seven Scouts Ascend to Eagle Rank After Ten Years of Friendship

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Seven Eagle Scouts who have been together in Scouting since they were Cub Scouts. Pictured with Scoutmaster Tom Black. From top left, Brennan B., Damian C., Aidan M., Ryan C. and James T.; in front, Matt M. and Dan F. (Photo credit: Fairfield Citizen/Jarret Liotta)

Tackling the requirements to earn Scouting’s highest rank is no easy feat. The accomplishment is so rare, in fact, that only six percent of Scouts reach Eagle Scout. But seven Scouts from the Connecticut Yankee Council were up for the challenge, leaning on the strength of their friendship to make it happen.

Brennan B., Damian C., Aidan M, Ryan C., James T., Matt M., and Dan F. met in Cub Scouts when they were in the first grade, and they’ve stuck together in Scouting ever since.

Now, 10 years later, the Scouts have been awarded the Eagle Scout award together at Greenfield Hill Congregational Church in Fairfield, Conn. They credit one another for reaching this pinnacle in Scouting.

“I feel honored and humbled,” said Damian C., senior patrol leader of their troop to the Fairfield Citizen. “Scouting has really taught me to serve my community and how to give back. Without them I wouldn’t be here. We’ve known each other since we were little.”

The Scouts’ longtime Scoutmaster has watched their friendships grow for years and delights in how much the boys have grown in the program.

“They’re a great group of kids,” said Scoutmaster Tom Black, “and I’m so glad they stuck with it. Scouting gives them independence, confidence, leadership and teamwork. You just don’t get that anywhere. It’s something they’re going to take with them the rest of their lives.”

Supporting Each Other in Scouting

“We’re all here today because of each other,” said Brennan B. “I’m feeling that bond, especially today,” he shared, preparing for his Eagle Court of Honor ceremony.

“It’s certainly helpful to have a group of guys keep you going if you get discouraged,” said Ryan. “I’d say that’s the most important thing, being there for each other.”

“We’ve always gotten along so well,” said Aidan, a junior assistant Scoutmaster. “We’ve gotten through all the challenges of Scouting together. We’re a really good group.”

To fulfill the Eagle Scout requirements, each Scout spearheaded unique charitable projects that demonstrate their leadership skills and benefit the community.

Matt and Aidan repaired bridges at the Connecticut Audubon Society. Also at the Audubon, James identified and repaired birdhouses along trails, while Dan built a heated birdcage vestibule system for winter survival. Ryan organized a food drive for Operation Hope. Tom constructed a retaining wall and designed landscaping at St. Ann’s Parish, while Damian raised funds to replace flooring at Daughters of the Most Precious Blood Mission.

Assistant Scoutmaster Dave Nobile echoes Scoutmaster Black’s sense of pride and appreciation in leading the boys to achieve Scouting’s highest rank.

“This is the greatest bunch of Scouts I’ve ever worked with,” said Nobile. “I’m very proud of them.”

To read the full story on this tight-knit group of Eagles, head to the Fairfield Citizen.

Which Villanova Guard in Tonight’s Sweet 16 Game Is an Eagle Scout?

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Josh Hart is the Villanova guard who’s charging full speed ahead in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2016 NCAA men’s basketball tournament and he’s also an Eagle Scout! Did you guess right?

Rooted in the Scouting principles at an early age, Hart joined the program as a Cub Scout and excelled through the ranks to earn Scouting’s highest honor.

Yet with a busy basketball schedule, Hart wasn’t always confident he could keep up with his Scouting commitments. In fact, the basketball player once considered giving up Scouting all-together. But Hart’s dad knew Scouting would be beneficial to his son, so he encouraged him to stick with the program.

“My dad said, ‘Let’s get in the car and go somewhere.’ He just pulled right up to the troop meeting and said, ‘you’re gonna finish what you started,’” Hart says. “I promised him I was going to finish, and kept thinking that I made a promise.”

A week before his 18th birthday, Hart fulfilled his promise to his dad and ascended to the Eagle Scout rank. He earned the award as a member of Rockville, Md.-based Troop 1083 of the National Capital Area Council.

Thanks to Scouting, the athlete is a better team player today. Hart credits Scouting for teaching him the leadership and work ethic he needed to excel in basketball.

Tonight is a big night for Villanova and Josh Hart and you won’t want to miss it! You can watch the Eagle Scout in the Sweet Sixteen game against No. 3 seed Miami (7:10 p.m. Eastern Thursday, March 24 CBS).

Read the full story on the Eagle Scout athlete, along with Philadelphia Scouter Ed Lynes’ interview with Hart to learn how Scouting helped him soar to basketball fame by heading to Bryan on Scouting.

Four Generations Prove They Have the “Eagle Scout Edge”

Eagle Scout EdgeWhat’s the key to having a leg up on the competition for job searches or college applications? According to a four-generation family of Eagle Scouts from the Michigan Crossroads Council, the answer is clear – it’s the “Eagle Scout edge”.

Scouting has played a significant role in the accomplishments of John T., his father, sons and grandsons, all Eagles and successful leaders. In fact, the family cites Scouting for launching them into careers in business and athletics.

“The Scouting program in itself goes a long way toward helping people,” explained John to The Traverse Ticker, noting independence, motivation, commitment and maturity as just a few of the characteristics inherent to Eagle Scouts.

Throughout John’s 32-year career with Dow Corning, he’s hired many people, but it was the Eagle Scouts who always had the advantage.

“You know what you’re getting,” he said. All other qualities being equal, he says it was the Eagle Scout who he was certain would be reliable and dependable, with self-worth and a sense of purpose. John says Scouts also have an advantage with team-building, whether in college or a career, where collaboration and leadership are essential.

An example of the Eagle edge in action, John’s grandson exemplifies the commitment and discipline fostered in Scouting on his path to college. After earning both a swimming and academic scholarship to the University of Arizona, the grandson will also try out for a place on the U.S. Olympic swim team in June.

Despite all of the extracurricular options and challenges youth face today, John urges parents to consider introducing their children to Scouting. He says Scouting provides not only a foundation for leaders, it also provides “an edge, an advantage long after other things are gone.”

Read the full story on this family of Eagles with a penchant for success by visiting The Traverse Ticker.

Scoutmaster of 20 Years Shares Benefits of Scouting

ScoutmasterFor more than 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America has enriched the lives of countless youth across the country – all thanks to the passionate leaders and volunteers who strive to make Scouting a meaningful program. But what many may forget is that Scouting isn’t just benefiting youth, Scouting is making a positive impact on adults, too.

Mark Blakemore has dedicated 20 years of his life to being a Scoutmaster and considers his success in life to be a direct result of his upbringing and experiences in Scouting.

Mark is the associate dean for assessment and engagement at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and is also a practicing attorney. Mark says Scouting made a difference in his life and that’s the reason he wanted to devote his free time to Scouting.

“I wanted any Scout that was a member to pick up the tenants of the Boy Scouts (trustworthiness, loyalty, bravery, and kindness among other values) and learn citizenship skills,” Blakemore explained to The Brownsville Herald. “I am a strong believer that if you follow the program, you’ll be successful in life.”

Blakemore says the organization provides its members with ample opportunity to grow key leadership skills that will cause them to naturally gravitate toward any leadership positions later in life. After all, his life is a prime example of that.

He’s actively served at the Rio Grande Council, including on the Eagle Board of Review committee. As a board member, Blakemore is charged with interviewing Boy Scouts to ensure they are ready to ascend to the Eagle rank.

“People will have certain expectations of you, and our job was to make sure the Scout understood that because it is a lifelong commitment,” Blakemore shared.

Mark says he’s helped guide Scouts of all personalities, ranging from mild-mannered to boisterous, yet he notices positive changes in every Scout committed to the program.

“Some Scouts start out great and continue to get better. Some start out not so great but get better because they learn as time goes on,” Blakemore said.

What’s important to their development, Blakemore says, is that the Scouts have the right role models. With the right leadership, any boy can reach success through Scouting.

“Boys are always going to have people to look up to. It’s whether the persons they’re looking up to are positive influences,” Blakemore said.

Read the complete story on why this man’s longtime role as a Scoutmaster has contributed to his success by visiting The Brownsville Herald.

 

Scout’s First Aid Skills Save Choking Victim

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Scout Ryan V. was awarded the Medal of Merit after he saved a man’s life with the skills he learned in Scouting. (Photo credit: DNAinfo/Mina Bloom)

One quick-thinking Boy Scout from the Pathway to Adventure Council is thanking Scouting for equipping him with skills that are not only preparing him for life – they’re the difference between life or death.

Last October, Boy Scout Ryan V. employed first aid techniques he learned in Scouting to save his former Scoutmaster’s life. Now, he’s being awarded the Medal of Merit for his skillful efforts.

Ryan recalls watching his former Scoutmaster become pale and frantically pace the restaurant before signaling that he was choking. With that sign, the Scout jumped to his aid, performing the abdominal thrust technique. After three thrusts, Ryan helped to dislodge the piece of food, saving the man’s life.

“I didn’t think a situation could come up like that in my life. When I was learning all these different procedures, I was thinking, ‘OK, at least now I know what to do if something happens,’ but I didn’t think anything would happen,” the Scout said in a news article in DNAinfo.

A model of humble service, the Scout says he gives all the credit to Scouting.

“Without their teachings … it’s scary to think about,” he shared. “I might not have been able to effectively perform the maneuver.”

How Scouting Made a Difference

“I believe it plays a major role in young men’s lives. It helps give you a sense of responsibility and a sense of ownership of what you do, and gives you a large amount of knowledge,” the Scout explained.

Now 18, Ryan plans to attend DePaul University where he intends to study computer science – but that doesn’t mean his connection to Scouting will end. Ryan hopes to continue his involvement in the program by mentoring young adults. After experiencing how valuable Scouting has been in his life, he says he couldn’t imagine not being involved in Scouting in the future..

“I’m very proud of myself that I know different techniques that could help become the difference between life and death for someone.”

Learn more about how Scouting equipped this brave Scout with the training it took to save someone’s life by reading the full story on DNAinfo.

Scouts Support War Veteran Amputee

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Adam Keys, an injured veteran of the war in Afghanistan, said the support he received from Boy Scouts helps him maintain a positive outlook on life. (Photo credit: Lauren Loricchio/Capital Gazette)

Fifteen-year-old Boy Scout Ryan O. of the Del-Mar-Va Council has always had a passion for serving veterans. So when the Scout heard about a local wounded hero who needed support, he enlisted the help of his troop and other volunteers to give back to the man who sacrificed so much to protect our country.

Adam Keys, an injured war veteran of the war in Afghanistan, was a paratrooper assigned to the 27th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He stepped on an improvised explosive device while deployed in Afghanistan in 2010 and underwent more than 130 surgeries, spending five years and 13 days in the hospital. He lost his left forearm and both legs below the knee.

“After a few months at the hospital, you kind of say, ‘Man, my career just ended essentially, what am I going to do next?’ and some great organizations like Wounded Warriors, Patriots Honor Organization and these young Scouts come help out in the yard – they are my saviors,” Keys said to Capital Gazette.

A Scout’s Passion to Give Back

Left a triple amputee, Keys found everyday tasks like home upkeep and outdoor chores to be nearly impossible – that’s where Ryan knew he could help out.

Ryan wanted to provide a safe, clean space Keys could enjoy at his Annapolis home, so he and other Scouts gathered at the veteran’s home to level the ground and clear debris in his yard. Ryan says their efforts will be ongoing and they plan to continue the project over next month.

But the Scout didn’t stop there. He also contacted Warrior Events, an Annapolis-based nonprofit that helps wounded veterans and their families, and connected the group with Keys.

Ryan’s mother, Karen, said she was proud of her son, who has “a lot of respect for soldiers and what they’ve sacrificed.”

“I feel like Adam is having such a positive influence on our boys,” Karen shared. “I don’t know anybody who’s so positive.”

After experiencing the overwhelming support from the Scouts and other volunteers, Keys says he plans to spread the word to other injured war veterans so they, too, can see how much support and encouragement is available to them.

“All I can do is pay it forward and try to spread the word that there are people out there who do care, so service members know there is support out there,” he said.

Learn more about how these Scouts are making a difference to this wounded veteran by reading the full story on the Capital Gazette.

Cub Scout Recognized After Rescuing Drowning Toddlers

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Cub Scout Robert R. displays his Medal of Merit Award for rescuing two toddlers from drowning. (Photo credit: Catholicphilly.com)

When one Cub Scout visited his local swim club last summer, he didn’t expect to leave the pool a life-saver. Yet when the Scout spotted two toddlers drowning in the deep end, he sprung into action and rescued the pair in the blink of an eye.

Robert R. of the Cradle of Liberty Council was at the Winchester Swim Club when he saw a 3-year-old and 4-year-old brother and sister drowning in the 12-foot diving area of the pool with deflated floaties. Even before the lifeguard on duty had time to act, the Cub Scout grabbed the toddlers and swam them to shallow water. Robert was only 7 years old at the time.

Now 8, Robert was honored for his extraordinary heroism by receiving the BSA’s Medal of Merit award. The honor is given to those in Scouting who perform some outstanding act of service of a rare character that reflects an uncommon degree of concern for the well-being of others.

The Scout’s dad, Bob, witnessed his son’s skillful rescue and believes the toddlers were pulled by an undertow where the shallow and deep water intersected. Bob says the toddlers’ parents were part of a birthday party and did not know what happened to their children until after Robert rescued them.

“They were very embarrassed. They just picked the kids out of the pool and left. Robert really did a great thing that day,” Bob said of his son to CatholicPhilly.com.

Robert’s teacher Eileen Rocks said she was “flabbergasted” when she heard the news.

“But it’s typical of him. He’s a kind and polite young man who is always ready to help, and his parents are very supportive of him,” Rocks shared.

The Scout was humble in his account of the experience and simply wanted to do the right thing.

“I felt good that I could keep them above the water,” he said.

Bob, a lieutenant with the 17th district of the Philadelphia Police Department, was overjoyed and moved by his son’s courage.

“The pride beaming from my heart is more than I can describe,” he said.

Read the full story on this outstanding Scout who used what he learned in Scouting to save two youngsters by visiting CatholicPhilly.com.

How This 81-Year-Old Man Joined the Ranks of Eagle Scouts

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81-year-old Harry Persons Jr. salutes longtime friend Jim Scarbrough after receiving the Eagle Scout award. (Photo credit: Karen Murphy/Times-Enterprise)

Sixty-three years have passed since one man completed the requirements toward earning the Eagle Scout rank his teenage self worked so hard to achieve. Yet now at age 81, Harry Persons Jr. can finally call himself an official Eagle Scout, despite being decades from his eighteenth birthday.

No, the BSA didn’t make an exception for this Scout – receiving the award at his age was simply a matter of proving he completed the prerequisites to the rank sixty-three years ago.

Harry’s dream was recharged after he discovered a box of Scouting memories while he was cleaning his garage. Harry found his Boy Scout sash, crowded with badges, along with his original Eagle Scout application.

Nostalgia and long-cherished experiences in Scouting washed over Persons, launching him into a two-year quest to gain the Eagle Scout recognition.

After providing proof of his completed requirements and phoning into his Eagle Scout Board of Review, Harry Persons was finally granted Scouting’s highest rank on September 2015.

“You hear about things like this here and there,” said Bob Norwillo, district director of the Suwannee River Area Council to the Thomasville Times-Enterprise, “but for the Scouts, this is very unique.”

Persons graduated from high school at age 17 and was scheduled to attend his Board of Review as the final step in earning the Eagle rank. Unfortunately, a scheduling conflict with his University of Miami studies got in the way and he was unable to complete the final interview. While in college, Harry was drafted into the Korean War. Once he returned from service, Harry married and started a career in public relations – taking him further from his boyhood dream.  

What It Means to Become an Eagle

“I have been on pins and needles,” the new Eagle said. “You can’t get any higher than an Eagle Scout.”

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Harry was a model of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Persons says he was the first to earn a First Class and Life Badge at the same time at Camp Flying Eagle in Fort Myers. He also was the youngest and one of the first in Florida to earn the God and Country Award.

“My father, who has passed on, encouraged me to join the Scouts and was very proud of what I accomplished,” an emotional Persons shared. “It was always kind of a competition for me to do what my dad had done and, hopefully, just a little more.” 

At the Eagle’s ceremony, Harry’s longtime friend Jim Scarbrough explained the significance of the achievement, both now and then.

“Since the inception of the Eagle Scout award in 1912, only 2.01 percent of eligible Scouts have earned this honor,” said Scarbrough. “In 1951, when Mr. Persons should have received the Eagle Scout designation, only 1.09 percent of all Scouts reached this pinnacle.”

Read the full story by visiting the Thomasville Times-Enterprise. To learn more about how it was possible for a man to receive Scouting’s highest rank at age 81, read Can You Get Eagle After 18? on Scouting Wire.