The Boy Scouts of America’s Coastal Georgia Council held its annual Council Recognition Banquet July 17 at the Richmond Hill City Center, honoring outstanding volunteers and youth
The Council Recognition Banquet celebrates the annual reunion of Eagle Scout Alumni and recognizes all local Scouts who earned the rank of Eagle Scout during the previous year. The Coastal Georgia Council consistently ranks above the national average of young men achieving Eagle Scout, with the Class of 2017 consisting of a record 105 new Eagles, according to a press release.
Two youth awards were presented at the banquet: the Medal of Merit, a National Boy Scouts of America Lifesaving Award; and the National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. The Medal of Merit was given to Teddy Weaver, a Cub Scout who saved his cousin from drowning at risk to his own life.
The National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award was presented to Giovanni Caraballo from Troop 7. This award recognizes the valuable service provided by scouts through their Eagle Scout leadership service projects. Giovanni’s Eagle Project consisted of the planning and constructing of a substantial storage unit system that will benefit the students of Windsor Forest High School in Savannah for many years to come.
The annual banquet also includes the time-honored tradition of formally recognizing outstanding adult volunteers, as well as special award recipients. Three adult leaders who have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given to the council were presented with the Silver Beaver Award, Malissa Hall, Jedon Lilliston and Chris Ray. The Silver Beaver Award is the council-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America.
Also recognized were Pete Mastopoulos, Frank Patterson and George Ginger. Mastopoulos received the National Eagle Scout Association Outstanding Eagle Scout Award, a distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. Patterson received the Council Commissioner’s Award and Ginter received a Veterans Award for 75 years of membership in Boy Scouts of America.
The Coastal Georgia Council Boy Scouts of America serves more than 5,000 young men and women annually in coastal Georgia though Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouts, Scoutreach programs and Explorer Post career exploration programs.
For more information on how to join, call 912-927-7272. The council website address is www.coastalgeorgiabsa.org/.