Scouting Alumni

🌕 "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."

On July 20, 1969, these iconic words marked the moment Eagle Scout and astronaut Neil Armstrong made history as the first human to set foot on the moon. Today, on National Moon Day, we celebrate not only that extraordinary achievement but also the path that helped shape the man behind the mission.

Before Apollo 11 and the Sea of Tranquility, Armstrong’s journey began in Wapakoneta, Ohio, as a young member of Scouting America’s Troop 14. Embracing the Scout Oath and Law, he developed values of service, leadership, and resilience that would guide him throughout life. Earning the rank of Eagle Scout, Armstrong restored a local community building for his project, one early example of his dedication to problem-solving and service.

Scouting nurtured Armstrong’s love of aviation and exploration, honing his skills in teamwork, survival, and navigation. These experiences laid the groundwork for his calm under pressure as a naval aviator, test pilot, and eventually an astronaut.

Even after his historic moonwalk alongside fellow Scouting America alum Buzz Aldrin, Armstrong remained a proud supporter of the Scouting movement, often crediting it for shaping his character and career. His story continues to inspire Scouts and space explorers.

https://scoutingalumni.org/about/notable-scouting-alumni/armstrong-neil-alden/

Carter "Banks" Ketner, a recent graduate of Croatan High School in North Carolina, has been recognized for his outstanding commitment to service, leadership, and academics. An Eagle Scout, Ketner regularly volunteers at Crystal Bluffs Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, where he spends time visiting residents, playing card games, and learning from their life experiences. He says the relationships have taught him as much as his service has benefited others.

Earning the rank of Eagle Scout was one of Ketner's proudest achievements. For his Eagle Scout service project, he led the renovation of his high school's press box, coordinating more than 20 volunteers and raising over $10,000 to replace the flooring, windows, ceiling, lighting, and repaint the interior.

This fall, Ketner will attend North Carolina State University to study mechanical or biomedical engineering. Recognized as a Spectrum High School Scholar, he also received a $1,000 scholarship for his academic excellence and community service. Through it all, Ketner credits his success to giving back to the community that has supported him, saying he wants to share the blessings he has received with others.

Read more 👇

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/hs-scholars-26/2026/07/01/high-school-scholars

📷Charter Communications

It is time to nominate deserving volunteers for the 2027 Silver Buffalo Award!

Nomination forms with no more than two recommendation letters must be submitted together electronically to the National Service Center at [email protected] no later than August 31, 2026. And remember, the candidate should not be notified of this nomination.

When submitting the Silver Buffalo Nomination form electronically, please include as much correct and relevant information about the nominee as possible. Incomplete nominations will not be considered. Be sure the nominee’s name is spelled correctly and highlight all contributions to youth inside and outside of Scouting. Additional endorsement letters from specific areas may be included, provided they feature detailed explanations of the nominee’s contributions.

Questions related to the Silver Buffalo nomination process can be addressed to [email protected].