Haari Muthukumar, a member of Livingston’s Boy Scout Troop 12, recently achieved Eagle Scout rank, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America. He was formally inducted as an Eagle Scout in a C ourt of Honor on November 16.
Becoming an Eagle Scout requires commitment and dedication. A scout has to learn the scouting fundamentals, earn merit badges to exhibit the knowledge gathered, contribute to society through service projects, (Continued on Page A-6) (Continued from Page A-1 ) participate in hiking and camping activities, and complete an Eagle proj ect that yields a positive outcome for the community. Ac cording to Boy Scouts of America, only about four percent of scouts achieve this rank.
Eagle Scout
When Muthukumar took the oath to become an Eagle Scout at his Court of Honor, Livingston Township Council member Ketan Bhuptani presented him with a plaque in recognition of his achievements and contributions to the community. Close to 80 people, including troop and family members and friends, attended the event. On the day of the ceremony, a U.S. flag was flown at the nation’s capital to celebrate Muthukumar’s achievement; the flag will be sent to him in the coming months.
In his address, Muthukumar encouraged the younger scouts to fully embrace their scouting journey. He emphasized the importance of participating actively to maximize the benefits of the experience. Sharing his own perspective, he reflected on how much he had enjoyed his journey in scouting, gaining not only enjoyment but also valuable life skills. He also reminded the scouts to focus on “living in the moment, rather than worrying solely about the outcomes,” highlighting the value of appreciating the present.
Muthukumar’s scouting journey began in January 2016, when he joined Weehawken Troop 223 as a Cub Scout in third grade. As a Cub Scout, he enjoyed carving and painting the car for the Pinewood Derby competition. He went to multiple camps and hikes, and his favorite was Camp Nobebosco. He recalled some unforgettable experiences, including coming back from his first winter camp with his feet frozen due to the severe cold.
Muthukumar moved to Troop 12 when he started sixth grade in Livingston. He joined the troop under the Scoutmastership of Gurmeet Grewal, and earned Eagle Scout rank with Ravi Mukkavalli as the Scoutmaster. He described Richard Waxman, the Troop 12 chairman, as having “been a big pillar of support” throughout his scouting experience in Livingston, and he thanked the two Scoutmasters, Waxman, and the Troop 12 committee members for their service and support.
As a Boy Scout, Muthukumar attended various camps and service projects, including summer camps at Yawgoog. He enjoyed the water gun fights on the rafting trips, and spending the night at the USS New Jersey battleship was a memorable experience for him. As part of his scouting, he introduced composting at home.
Muthukumar was a troop instructor and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster, and taught leadership and life skills to Troop 12 Scouts. He noted that the teaching, camp, and project experiences, along with fulfilling Scout requirements, taught him invaluable life lessons, including the importance of teamwork, perseverance, and finding humor in adversity.
Muthukumar volunteers at many non-profit organizations. For his Eagle project, he chose to aid one of these non-profits, “Bridges Outreach,” which provides meals and necessities to the homeless in Essex County and strives to endhomelessness through street outreach. For his Eagle project, he made and distributed more than a thousand peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in two batches to the needy and homeless in Irvington and Newark.
According to Troop leaders, Muthukumar’s scouting journey shaped him into the person he is today - “someone who embraces challenges with a positive attitude, striving to reach new heights, helping him persevere through life’s difficulties.”
Muthukumar is currently a senior at Livingston High School. He was a member of the Livingston High School marching band. Outside of scouting service projects, he has led or volunteered for many projects through the non-profit Young Men’s Service League (YMSL). He enjoys playing chess both competitively and for fun. He is a U.S. Chess National Master and captain of the Livingston High School chess team.
Troop 12 has been operating in Livingston since 1926 and will celebrate its centennial in two years. Anyone interested in joining Troop 12 may contact committee chairman Richard Waxman at 201-247-4351, or Scoutmaster Ravi Mukkavilli at 201-388-2474.
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