The Susquehanna District, a part of the Boy Scouts of America's Pennsylvania Dutch Council, held its annual awards dinner on June 14 at Ascension Lutheran Church in Willow Street. The annual dinner recognizes leaders who have exemplified the Scouting ideals and program in their Scout units or leadership within the district.

The District Award of Merit is the top volunteer award the district can present. Chet Bowen from Troop 84 and Fred Frey from Troop 146 received this award at the dinner.

Bowen was the committee chair for Pack 93 for six years and has been an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 84 for five years and a member of Crew 162 for two years. He is also a unit commissioner. He is currently the Pennsylvania Dutch Council spring sales chair and the district committee membership chair. He was a Wood Badge staff member in 2022. He has served in many other volunteer positions within the Pennsylvania Dutch Council, as well. Bowen has been involved with Scouting almost his entire life, and he has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, is a Vigil member in the Order of the Arrow, and received the James E. West award.

Frey is an Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 146, the committee chair of Pack 146 and an assistant roundtable commissioner for the district, a role in which he is instrumental in creating recruitment materials and incentives. He also serves on staff for the College of Commissioner Science and often volunteers for district events like the Klondike Derby. Frey has earned the bachelor's and master's degrees from the College of Commissioners Science, Arrowhead Honor as a commissioner, and Scouter's Key, and he is an Ordeal member of the Order of the Arrow.

Other volunteer leaders were presented with awards. Spark Plug Awards went to Corey Wilson, Troop 76; Andrea Dougherty, Pack 82; Mary Kay Vasold, Troop 82; Melissa Kelshaw, Pack 37; and Jim Rayfield, Troop 48.

Leader of the Year awards were also presented. The winners were Joseph Way, Troop 349 Boys for Scouts BSA; Tyffany Valotta, Pack 148, for Cub Scouts; Julie Pedrick, Pack and Troop 82, Scouter of the Year; and Marion Glasby, unit commissioner, Commissioner of the Year.

Unit Leader Award of Merit winners included Timothy Schmitt, Troop 349 Boys; Matthew Vazquez, Pack 37; and Daniel Dennis, Pack 82; and Kenneth Neumann, Troop 393. The Scouters Training Award went to Kenneth Neumann of Troop 393, and the William D Boyce New Unit Awards were presented to Kandis Sharp, Troop 76 Girls; Diana Urbine, Troop 76 Girls; Howard Urbine, Troop 76 Girls; and Donald Wilson, Troop 76 Girls.

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) provides a youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. The Pennsylvania Dutch Council, Boy Scouts of America, provides support and Scouting opportunities for over 2,600 youths in Lancaster and Lebanon counties. The council partners with 130 community organizations and has more than 2,800 active adult volunteers.

BSA programs are divided by age and activity. Cub Scouting is for boys and girls in kindergarten through fifth grade, Scouts BSA is open to young men and young women in grades six through 12, and coed Venturing and Sea Scouting are available for young men and young women ages 14 through 20. BSA also offers career-oriented coed Exploring programs to youths ages 10 through 20. For more information, contact the local Scout office at 717-394-4063.