Addressing Troop 17 & Troop 19 

Historical Account by Founder, Riya Tyagi 

(as published in Troop 19's Inaugural Fall Court of Honor  Brochure)

It was February 2019 and in America, something was changing. Girls, sneaking into Scouting from the sidelines, had finally been officialy welcomed.

At the same time, Riya Tyagi had an idea. After years of passion for nature and longing to be a Scout, she had her chance. Seizing it, she invited a group of her friends for a Scouting informational session hosted by Mr. Cannon and Mr. McKenna. And Troop 19 began that very day, with the spirit of 5 trailblazing young women. 

Two weeks later, Troop 19 had expanded to eight through word of mouth; these eight became the founding members of a Scouts BSA Troop at St. Rose of Lima Church in Short Hills, New Jersey.

The first Scout roster was made up of the following women: Katie Cannon, Lindsey Kasmin, Bridget Lomax, Morgan Lomax, Judy Pei, Natally Rios, Riya Tyagi, and Hannah Zhou. Troop 19 grew and grew, with the guidance of Scoutmaster Daniel Cannon, Assistant Scoutmasters Urvashi Tyagi, Anthony Rios, and Craig Kasmin, Committee Members Brian and Kathleen Lomax, all Troop 19 parents, Troop 17 scouts, and of course, the very committed Committee Chairman James McKenna. 

At this time, these pathfinders set out on a journey to create their own Troop 19. They drew up a logo, assigned leadership, and set out to figure out how to provide for themselves and stop leeching off their brother troop, Troop 17, who was always there to support and help Troop 19. One of the most impressive feats of this rising power was choosing a Troop number, 19. Not only was this the year the troop was formed, it was in 1919 that the soon-to-be ratified 19th amendment calling for women’s suffrage was created. And coincidentally Mr. Fineran, the acclaimed and truly sublime long-time Scoutmaster of Troop 17 at St Rose, had once led a Troop 19 in the Panama Canal. 

As the 2019 school year began, Troop 19 saw an increase in the scout roster, from 8 members, to a current 20. 

We, Troop 19, are proud to say that we will continue to grow, thrive, and accomplish our common goal: to create powerful and strong women with the courage to lead our community, and thus, our world. 

Our story will not be forgotten.