Latest news with #SeaScoutoftheYear
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Scouting means family:' Cub Scout feeding others by founding nonprofit
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — This year's Great Smoky Mountain Council Cub Scout of the Year is an active scout who sells popcorn, enjoys pinewood derby cars, going camping and being with his friends, but most importantly, is devoted to service. Acen Kala is a master cookie maker. He makes pans of his famous brownies made with the help of his mother Nisha. She's encouraged her 10 year old son to learn early about serving others. West wrestler Ahmed Shahin hits the ground running after move from Egypt He's just a 5th grader, yet he's demonstrated a strong sense of compassion and leadership. Acen founded his own non-profit, Mission ACE, about 3 years ago. It's purpose is to offer comfort and nourishment to those facing hard times. 'So, I help, I help the homeless a lot, that need food and that need clothing The homeless are unfortunate, so we need to help them more. We need to get them to another level that is good,' Acen Kala said. Acen has partnered with 'The Love Kitchen' providing food, and Angelic Ministries and the YWCA filling and distributing mission bags. Monthly, he takes goodies to Transformation Church's food pantry. Acen enjoys regular kids stuff too. He likes to go fishing. Another favorite, being outdoors with his friends. Acen has been a Cub Scout since the first grade. 'Scouting means family. Scouting is a community, it's a really close community. Through scouting we have build good friends who we see as family. For me as a parent it was important that he saw the homeless and what they were going through to help build that empathy. It's important in terms of growth. It has really shaped and formed Acen and his character,' Nisha Kala said. He's an academic achiever at Jefferson Middle School in Oak Ridge. 'The real focus is fellowship': Sea Scout of the Year recognized for leadership, community service Acen and his mom received the Dove Award from ARC for their contributions to those with developmental disabilities. His goal in life is to shoot for the stars. 'I want to get to space and try to see the moon and all kinds of things in space,' Acen Kala said. Acen is one of the three scouts being honored at the Great Smoky Mountain Council of the Boy Scouts' Distinguished Citizens Dinner. The council is also honoring 110 'iconic leaders' of the council as it celebrates its 110th year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘The real focus is fellowship': Sea Scout of the Year recognized for leadership, community service
SWEETWATER, Tenn. (WATE) — Jonathan McDaniel is a member of Scouting America's oldest program, Sea Scouts. It's been around since 1912, just two years after the organization was founded. He was named the Great Smoky Mountain Council's Sea Scout of the Year. McDaniel started in scouting as a first grader. His awards case is filled with patches from excursions to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, to the Sea Base High Adventure Base in Florida, to earning the Eagle rank, scouting's highest honor. City begins implementing new Downtown Knoxville parking plan: What to know 'Everyone loves the patches in scouting. I think the real focus is fellowship, being able to meet different people and get involved in the community,' said McDaniel. 'I have spent the last five years in leadership positions.' For the last three years, he's been an instructor at Camp Buck Toms, an assistant scoutmaster in Sweetwater and an Order of the Arrow leader. His recent passion has been helping form SHIP 98 and serve as its first Boatswain. 'It was a little bit of a process, but we had enough support and people wanting to be a part of it that it came through fairly smoothly,' he said. Tree-lined plazas, new splash pad to surround Covenant Health Park When asked what he would said to young people who may want to join Sea Scout, he said the following. 'Oh, I encourage them fully. I let them know how much fun we have, all the different water experiences we get to have, and all the things you can learn by it. There are not a lot of opportunities unless your family is involved with boating and water recreation other than Sea Scouting,' said McDaniel. McDaniel earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2021. 'With my Eagle project, I was working with the city [of Sweetwater]. I made several recycling barrels for the city to put out,' said McDaniel. 'I wanted to help the city to appear greener and actually be greener. It's a hard task especially when they want you go to through all of the paperwork. They teach you how important it is to go through processes, to be able to manage yourself through that, and to keep yourself accountable with it.' McDaniel was a member of the council's leadership conference at the Philmont Training Center last summer. 'If you like being outdoors, scouting is where you need to be,' said McDaniel. Knoxville scout uses Eagle Project to help his former school recover from tornado McDaniel and three other scouts will be honored on Thursday, Feb 27, 2025, at the council's annual distinguished citizen's dinner. Governor Bill Lee will be the guest speaker. The council will be celebrating 110 of its iconic leaders who have been part of the Scouting America program in East Tennessee since 1915. The Great Smoky Mountain Council served over 7,500 scouts this past year, plus, nearly 2,000 adults were registered as volunteers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
