(NASHVILLE) On Monday evening (2/1/2021) twenty-one young women from Middle Tennessee were recognized from the stage at the Grand Ole Opry House for being among the first females in the nation to reach Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Scouts BSA.
Four of the new Eagles were members of Murfreesboro Troop 2019 at Trinity United Methodist Church. In fact, that group along with Troop 22 in Brentwood tied for first place in having the most Eagle Scouts.
Murfreesboro's BSA Toop 2019 Female Eagle Scouts
Congratulations to the four Eagle Scouts who were inducted from Murfreesboro’s troop:
- Taylor Elise Bell
- Mackenzie Katherine Neal
- Morgan Aleigha Phillips
- Lindsay Rebecca Parker
Ceremony at Grand Ole Opry House
The Opry, along with Middle Tennessee State University, worked with the leaders of the Middle Tennessee Council of the Boy Scouts of America to honor the young women through a special virtual ceremony due to COVID-19 precautions.
Legendary Opry announcer Bill Cody, a member of the council’s executive board, hosted a virtual recognition of the first female Eagles from the stage of the Grand Ole Opry House. Monday marked the second anniversary of the entry of females into Scouts BSA and February was the first month that they could become eligible for promotion to the Eagle rank.
MTSU Is Very Involved
Due to COVID-19 precautions, the Eagle Scouts were projected via Zoom to the large video screen at the Grand Ole Opry as leaders on the stage conferred upon their rank. The event was livestreamed on the council’s Facebook page, as well as on the MTSU Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center’s channel.
MTSU assists the Middle Tennessee Council through a partnership signed between the council and the university in 2018. The university helped charter the troop. Faculty and staff members serve among its adult leaders.
Chief Scout Executive Larry Brown
Larry Brown, the council’s chief scout executive, said Monday’s ceremony was the first of its kind in the nation and that Middle Tennessee boasts the third-largest contingent of female Eagles.
“This is a great day for the Middle Tennessee Council as we celebrate the accomplishments of these trailblazing Eagle Scouts,” Brown said. “This class of Eagle Scouts represents 8% of our registered female Scouts – and this is only the Boy Scouts of America’s second year of offering the Scouts BSA program to young women.”
Sharon Gentry, vice president of the council’s outreach program to underserved communities, reminded the 21 young women that the “foremost responsibility of an Eagle Scout is to live with honor.”
“To an Eagle Scout, honor is the foundation of all character,” Gentry said. “They know that ‘A Scout is trustworthy’ is the first point of the Scout Law for a good reason. An Eagle Scout lives honorably, not only because honor is important to them, but because of the vital significance of the example they set for other Scouts.”
Closing With "Scoutmaster Moment"
Council President John Bright Cage closed the ceremony with a “Scoutmaster Moment,” a tradition where the top adult leader shared reflection with the Scouts at the end of a troop meeting.
“I am so proud of you all,” Cage said. “This is the big time. I wish you could all be here, together on this iconic stage. Savor the moment and go out and make a difference.”
Troop 2019 Retires WGNS' Listeners Flags With Dignity
Murfreesboro’s Troop 2019 also has a special place with WGNS as well. This is the scout troop that retires Old Glory with dignity, when listeners bring their tattered American flags to the radio station.
The 21 Eagles recognized Monday are among the about 500 young women across the nation who earned the rank. They are:
- Audrey Aulino, Troop 22, Brentwood
- Hannah Kathryn Bailey, Troop 1725, McMinnville
- Taylor Elise Bell, Troop 2019, Murfreesboro
- Nissa Jane Berle, Crew 87, Belle Meade
- Cassie Christensen, Troop 15, Franklin
- Virginia Clemente, Troop 934. Mount Juliet
- Elizabeth Marie D'Ambro, Troop 15, Franklin
- Maria Isabella Doyle, Troop 525, Clarksville
- Olivia Garza, Troop 22, Brentwood
- Gabriella Marie Kowalski, Troop 21, Clarksville
- Anna-Christina Laporte, Troop 934, Mount Juliet
- Mackenzie Katherine Neal, Troop 2019, Murfreesboro
- Emma Pearce, Troop 78, Nashville
- Estella Mae Pennell, Troop 15, Franklin
- Morgan Aleigha Phillips, Troop 2019, Murfreesboro
- Reese Ainsley Phinney, Troop 9, Gallatin
- Lindsay Rebecca Parker, Troop 2019, Murfreesboro
- Savannah Elizabeth Remington, Troop 78, Nashville
- Isabelle Steinert, Troop 22, Brentwood
- Catherine Tamayo, Troop 22, Brentwood
- Grace Cossette Wall, Troop 15, Franklin
