VALDOSTA — Several Boy Scouts from the South Georgia area teamed up with Students In Free Enterprise Saturday at the Merit Badge College event at the Langdale School of Business at Valdosta State University.

The program represents a partnership between SIFE of VSU and the Alapaha Area Council. District Executive Bert Whitfield said the Merit Badge College allows SIFE members to teach Scouts skills while offering the opportunity to earn merit badges toward Eagle rank.

Though participating SIFE members had hoped for a larger crowd, Event Chair Brandon Crouch, a marketing major and second semester SIFE member, said the 24 Boy Scouts, representing more than 12 Scout troops, were extremely productive in the class sessions taught by VSU students. The Scouts were accompanied by 12 adults and 16 instructors.

“The Merit Badge College provides the opportunity for Boy Scouts to learn information that may help them in their future career decisions and the possibility to earn badges relating to business topics,” said Crouch. “The classes are taught by paired SIFE members in hopes to influence the community’s youth, to educate them about the free enterprise opportunities available in America,” he said. “As SIFE members, we are getting involved with the kids and teaching them about the business environment in attempts to present college as a future option.”

Some of the Scouts traveled from as far as Douglas and Fitzgerald to learn skills such as managing bank accounts and time management. In the personal management class, Dan Gauger and Stephanie Spencer taught banking techniques and account protection plans. Boy Scout Willis Herring delivered an impromptu, mock sales pitch to the class in public speaking taught by Kemisha Bonner and Tajuanna Jones. Justin Herron and Tate Weiger explained the history and definition of different types of computers and programs in the computers class. Herron and Weiger also dismantled a computer to show its components and discussed the importance of online safety and the advantages and disadvantages of computer usage.

Students In Free Enterprise is a nonprofit international student organization.