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October 14th, 2025
Purdue Libraries Associate Professor Michael Witt is making a lasting impact beyond the classroom by serving as the faculty advisor for Scouting Purdue, a student club dedicated to fostering leadership and community among scouts on campus. Recently featured in Scouting Magazine by Scouting America, the club’s resurgence and dynamic programming highlight the power of dedicated mentorship and student engagement.
About the club
For many young adults, scouting ends when they graduate from high school, and they don’t get involved again until later in life when their children become scouts. When Witt was approached by students who wanted to continue scouting into college, he agreed to help them bring back the Purdue Eagle Scout Association—a once-active student club that had gone dormant.
The club recently rebranded itself as Scouting Purdue to better reflect the mission of Scouting America and to be more inclusive of all students who have scouting experience.
From helping to rewrite the constitution to electing student leaders and planning events, Witt has been a hands-on mentor—guiding the executive board and supporting club activities that blend service, leadership, and fun. The club is thriving again, giving students with a background in Scouting a way to stay connected, serve others, and grow as leaders.
Under his guidance, some recent Scouting Purdue activities include:
With hikes, service projects, social events, and professional networking, the club provides students with a strong, values-driven community that builds on their fellowship as Scouts.
For many members, Scouting Purdue has become a meaningful extension of their Scouting experience—providing a sense of belonging, leadership opportunities, and lasting connections.
“When I moved to college, I left a large Scouting community and didn’t think I would find something of similar impact and camaraderie again…until I noticed a Scouting Purdue callout flyer,” said Joshua Zapata, the current Scouting Purdue president. “My interest was piqued, and from that first meeting, I was immediately supported in my newfound leadership role and promised much more from my fellow students, especially Professor Witt.”
That sense of support and community has resonated with past leadership as well. Reflecting on his time as club president, Gahn Mungarndee shared:
“I needed something to call my home away from home, so I sought out a support network—personally, academically, and professionally—and I found that home in Scouting Purdue. It has unexpectedly supported my college journey by introducing me to amazing professors and professionals, opening doors to job opportunities, and helping me build a network of lifelong friendships. Overall, an experience I truly wouldn’t trade for anything.”
Continuing a legacy
Scouting Purdue stands on the shoulders of a remarkable legacy. Neil Armstrong, the Apollo 11 astronaut and Purdue alumnus, earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1947 as a member of Troop 14 in Wapakoneta, Ohio. He graduated from Purdue in 1955 with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering.
When Armstrong set out on the Apollo 11 mission, he carried more than just the hopes of a nation—he brought a World Scout Badge tucked among his personal items. On July 20, 1969, that badge touched the surface of the Moon, symbolizing how the values of Scouting could travel as far as human ambition.
At Scouting Purdue, students carry forward that spirit. Just as Armstrong embodied Scouting’s ideals in space, club members aim to live those same values on campus and beyond—building leaders who aim high and act with integrity.
Witt’s dedication to reviving the club reflects his broader commitment to supporting students—not only as learners but as leaders and engaged citizens.
View the collection of Armstrong papers, courtesy of Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, and learn more at scoutingpurdue.org or follow the club on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
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