Inspiring Leadership: PSU's Mike Rhoades Champions Youth at Scout Event
In a heartening event that underscored the importance of nurturing tomorrow’s leaders, Penn State’s head men’s basketball coach, Mike Rhoades, took center stage as the keynote speaker at the Hawk Mountain Council community breakfast. Rhoades, hailing from Mahanoy City, eloquently drew parallels between his role in basketball and the core missions embraced by Scouting America—both striving to shape individuals of integrity and responsibility.
Champion of Character
Rhoades emphasized the dual mission his role encompasses: cultivating champions both on the court and in life. His perspective resonated profoundly with Eagle Scout Maxwell Masser’s opening speech, which extolled values like trustworthiness and a communal spirit. Rhoades’ playful comment on recruiting Masser if he played basketball, highlights the tremendous breadth of talent and character scouting fosters.
Fostering the Future
Scouting, according to Rhoades, plays a pivotal part in building youth into leaders the community and world need. “The impact we can have on young people will last a lot longer than we’re here on this earth,” he aptly stated. The event gathered various community influencers, notably celebrating the contributions of Mike Hammer, whose leadership at Hydro Extrusion exemplifies how scouting molds trailblazers.
A Shared Commitment
Hawk Mountain Council Executive Davis Fox highlighted the immense contributions of scouts, citing the staggering statistic of 16,000 camp nights logged last year. Also, plans were unveiled to honor Kelly Malone of Schuylkill United Way as next year’s distinguished citizen, an homage to ongoing service and commitment.
An Event to Remember
Held amid the natural beauty of Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation, the 11th Annual Service to Youth & Community Breakfast was not just a celebration but a call to action—a reminder of the enduring legacy built through scouting and the unwavering spirit of collaboration it fosters. According to Republican Herald, the event marked an inspirational convergence of sports, community leadership, and youth empowerment.
