An education received from Auburn University can begin before someone ever enrolls in Auburn.
Members of various Southeastern Boy Scout troops who attended Merit Badge University, hosted by the service-fraternity Alpha Phi Omega received Auburn credit.
"Merit Badge University is one of our big projects for the year," said Mark Nugent, senior in civil engineering and member of Alpha Phi Omega. "We offer some of the more eclectic or unusual merit badges so it's an opportunity for scouts to earn a merit badge they might not normally get through the University."
More than 700 scouts from Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee gathered on Auburn's campus for their opportunity to earn an atypical merit badge.
"We have dentistry, drafting, surveying, aviation--that's one most scouts don't usually get," said Josh Smith, junior in computer science and software and member of Alpha Phi Omega. "We do also teach some common ones, like first aid or environmental science."
Howard Gill, the scout master of Troop 156 from Prattville, said his troop has come to Merit Badge University for the last five years.
"The boys like it because they want to earn merit badges and learn," Gill said. "It might take them a few weeks to earn a merit badge, but here it's an opportunity to do that in one weekend so it's a good deal for them."
Jordan Halloran, junior at Marbury High in Prattville and Eagle Scout in Troop 156, took advantage of Auburn's engineering school for his fifth visit to Merit Badge University.
"I signed up for composite materials because engineering was full," Halloran said. "I thought it might inform me about what it is and I thought it was something I might like. I'd heard from some other people that it was a fun class."
Halloran said he enjoys the unique opportunity the weekends' events provide.
"You have all the facilities, the equipment and the materials all right here so it's really helpful," Halloran said. "You actually have someone knowledgeable teaching the material which gives me a better idea of what I want to do in the future."
The scouts not only had the opportunity to learn from Auburn's teaching staff, but they also received a visit from a member of the Auburn football coaching staff.
Nugent said Phillip Lolley, defensive back coach, spoke to the scouts in Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum before Saturday's activities.
"Coach Lolley came by to give a small little welcome speech talking about how when they are recruiting football players they recruit more than an athlete, they also look for someone with a strong personal background," Nugent said. "The same type of character development they're looking for in a football player is what the scouts teaches."
Nugent said the weekend was a success.
"I think it went great," Nugent said. "Everything started on time and everybody had a great time. We had a big bonfire on Saturday night and I think from the scouts end they had a great time and it was a great intro to Auburn University."
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