B

While Jody Wigington was being honored as the 2023 Hamblen County “Good Scout” Thursday morning, the final push in fundraising for Scouting in Hamblen County was taking place.

Each attendee received a pledge card to fill out to support scouting, which includes Hamblen County, in the 21–county Cataloochee District, a part of the Great Smoky Mountain Council.

Of the $35,000 Hamblen County goal for Scouting, $10,000 was pledged at Thursday’s breakfast, making the total raised $38,609, 110 percent of the goal. Scouting receives no government funding and 100% of the funds raised stay in East Tennessee.

The Cataloochee District is made up of Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Sevier, South and East Knox counties. It is one of five districts comprising the Great Smoky Mountain Council.

According to Dr. Henry Selby, the council serves nearly 6,000 registered boys and girls in scouting, venturing, exploring, sea scouts and STEM scouts. The Cataloochee District serves 1,288 of these youths, a 25.8% increase in membership over the 1,024 youth in 2021. In the past year, 24 scouts in the district achieved the Eagle rank, scouting’s highest honor, including four in Hamblen County. The Eagle projects contributed 3,321 service hours in the district with an economic impact in the district of more than $109,000. In Hamblen County, 719 service hours and $23,800 of financial impact occurred with the four Eagle projects.

“Scouting’s mission is to develop values, character and citizenship in young people,” Selby said. “Our scout parents believe we have been successful.”

Selby cited a study by the Great Smoky Mountain Council and Harris Interactive that 92% of scouting parents agree that their son/daughter will be better prepared to handle the challenges of life through their scouting experiences. In the same poll, 93% of scouts will grow up to become productive citizens.

Selby said that last year, 14% of the membership received financial assistance for membership fees, uniforms, book, summer camp and activity fees.

“No scout in our community was turned away due to financial hardship,” Selby said.

All Cub Scout packs in the Cataloochee District welcomed females into their units and two of the six district all-female troops are located in Morristown.

Aaron Corbin, a senior at Morristown-Hamblen High School West, who took on a playground and picnic shelter at the soon-to-open Hamblen County Isaiah 117 House, spoke about his experience.

“It is an honor to stand before you representing the values of leadership, service and dedication that this prestigious rank embodies,” Aaron said.

Aaron said his Eagle project cost more than $10,000 and required 542 service hours to complete.

“The Isaiah 117 House is an incredible organization supporting foster children,” he said. “Their goal is to shelter foster children who are awaiting placement with a foster family. They provide a safe, welcoming environment on one of the worst day of their lives, rather than sitting in a waiting room of an office.”

Aaron knew that the challenge of building a picnic shelter and playground would be a challenge.

“It required a lot of fundraising, coordination with many different people and organizations. Thanks to the local community, however, I had little difficulty in fundraising for the project. The donated funds were used to purchase materials, supplies and anything else needed.”

Aaron was assisted greatly by his scouting friends, family. He owes all of the praise to those who helped him with the project.

He encountered many issues with the project, including not being able to begin the project until November 8 of last year due to construction delays on the house.

“I experienced the volatility of the market, (specifically) while trying to price materials for construction,” Aaron said. “The scarcity of resources when trying to find four metric tons of rubber mulch and the weather. It was either muddy, raining, snowing or perhaps all three.”

Aaron and his crew arrived early in the morning and worked until dark, sometimes using car headlights to continue work after dark.

“As Scouts, we have a duty to use our skills and resources to have a positive impact on the world around us,” Aaron said. “I, along with countless Eagle Scouts, will carry the lessons I learned in youth through the rest of my life. It’s been a journey filled with challenges and valued lessons. It has also been filled with comradery, personal growth and the satisfaction in making a difference in the personal lives of others.

“I hope my project serves as an inspiration to other scouts and young people to make a positive impact in the community,” he said. “I’d love to stay, but I really need to get to school.”

Aaron plans to attend Walters State Community College through the Tennessee Promise plan. He will later attend Tennessee Technological University to major in accounting.