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National Venturing Leadership Awards

2021 National Venturing Committee

2020-2021 National Venturing Committee Bernie Lockard Tim Anderson Robbie DiBiagio Gail Plucker Jim Lynch Tanadet Itsarapakdetam George Shields Andrew Miller Kris Zahrobsky Ray Czech Ryan Davis David Bush Tom McDonald Bob Sirhal Aaron Stockwell Lizzy Kwock AJ McGugin Natalie MacEwan Jake Brillhart Dan Carriveau Bill Daggett Dottie Brown Douglas Taylor Brenna Leary Brandon Gaines Gordon Meier Jean Perea Simone Lake Bain McHale Nicole Steele Jonathan Bergler Grace Prorok

National Venturing Committee Chair National Director of Older Youth Programs National Venturing Advisor Program Commissioner Vice-Chair of Program Vice-Chair of Administration Vice-Chair of Membership Vice-Chair Strategic Planning Vice-Chair of Relations Program Support Program Support Program Support Program Support Training Training Service Administration Support Administration Support Administration Support Awards & Recognition Chair Awards & Recognition Awards & Recognition Awards & Recognition Awards & Recognition Communication Chair Social Media Outreach Website Content Venturing Newsletter Chief Editor Graphic Design Graphic Design

Ryan Mitchel Savi McMillan Ken Bower Jeremy Linch Maria Hagen Matthew May Erik Saderholm Scott McKenzie Kris Zahrobsky Elwin Spray Reece Kilbey Carol McCarthy J. Dan McCarthy T.W. Cook Dinh Tran Marybeth Chaconas Scott Sorrels Chuck Walneck Marcelo Guerra Hahn

Videographer Literature Chair Literature Literature Literature Literature Strategy and Pilots National Commissioner Service Team Alumni Chair Community Relationships International Liaison LDS Liaison OA Liaison Sea Scout Liaison Vietnamese Liason STEM Liaison Member at Large Member at Large Member at Large

2020-2021 National Venturing Officers' Association Tyler Grey Samantha Troiano Andrew Steckner Ian Arnold Amy Hermann Juliana Murillo Robbie DiBiagio Julie Dalton Gordon Leary Sherry McGugin Elizabeth Finley

National VOA President National VOA Vice President Central Region Venturing President Northeast Region Venturing President Southern Region Venturing President Western Region Venturing President National Venturing Advisor Central Region Venturing Advisor Northeast Region Venturing Advisor Southern Region Venturing Advisor Western Region Venturing Advisor

2021 National Noteworthy Crew The aim of the National Noteworthy Crew distinction is to highlight the nation’s most innovative and progressive Venturing crews. Through this award, we will encourage crews to share their stories about how they lead the adventure in new and exciting ways.

National Venturing Officers' Association Boy Scouts of America 5

Crew 30-06 Sam Houston Area Council

Crew 30-06 is a hunting crew from Friendswood, Texas. Their crew encourages youth to develop their hunting and shooting skills by attending training through the National Rifle Association. In addition to this, Crew 30-06 educates its youth on wildlife conservation efforts by attending classes hosted by the State of Texas on local species and habitats, as well as ethical trapping. Using these skills, they have helped with local wildlife management efforts and gone on several major hunting expeditions to west Texas and New Mexico. At each of their events, they proudly boast their crew on their special made orange hunting vests and use them as a talking point to engage with others in the hunting community.Their crew members also routinely give back to Scouting by running ranges for local Scouts BSA & Cub Scouting events.

Crew 32 Occoneechee Council

Crew 32 is a crew from Hope Mills, North Carolina. Their crew helps youth develop many different sets of skills by encouraging attendance at various trainings and certifications. This includes NRA certifications in pistol, shotgun, rifle, and archery, SCUBA Open Water Certification, Community Emergency Response Team Program, and Amatuer Radio License, among other certifications. Before their regular crew meetings, they also host a Homework Club so that crew members can receive help with their schoolwork. Additionally, Crew 32 give back to its community by supporting its local veterans. They routinely volunteer for bingo nights, barbeques, and other events with their local American Legion and VFW posts.

Crew 1978 Circle Ten Council

Crew 1978 is a SCUBA crew from Garland, Texas. Their crew helps youth become SCUBA certified by working with a local dive shop to provide reduced rates for SCUBA gear, Open Water certification, and Advanced Open Water certification. Each year, their crew hosts a SCUBA trip abroad, typically in Mexico or Honduras, where crew members get to utilize the SCUBA skills they’ve developed. Additionally, Crew 1978 helps others experience SCUBA by staffing SCUBA at National Jamborees and the latest World Jamboree. Outside of SCUBA, their crew prides itself on its focus on mental health through group discussion they call “Feelings Time”. Additionally, they have a crew mascot, a rubber chicken named cluck, who even has his own Instagram (@cluck1978).

Crew 2013 Baltimore Area Council

Crew 2013 is a crew from Owings Mills, Maryland that specializes in 3D printing. All members of their crew learn how to program the printers, plan and build different 3D projects, and troubleshoot printer failures or bad prints. With the 3D printing skills that their members develop, they have helped to create prosthetic hands for those in need. They even used their free time while staffing archery at the World Scout Jamboree to educate others about prosthetics! During the pandemic, they shifted gears and learned how to create medical mask ear protectors for nurses, paramedics, and other essential workers all across the country.

2021 Extraordinary Venturer of the Year The Extraordinary Venturer of the Year Award is presented to a Venturer who has demonstrated extraordinary service in their community. This extraordinary service could be expressed through leadership, a single act of meritorious service, or on-going service to others beyond what is normally expected.

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Andrea Marron 2nd Runner-Up Palmetto Bay, Florida Crew 711, South Florida Council Andrea has been considered for her ongoing dedication to Venturing, her community, and education. Andrea’s been in the program for two years serving as crew Vice President and President. She has served as VOA Chairman for the Scoutmasters Camporee. More recently, she served the council VOA as the Vice President of Administration leading a virtual summer camp, trainings, and VOA Events such as Venturee and Major Mayhem. Andrea has recently led a two-week self-paced community clean-up in partnership with the Village of Palmetto Bay. With 52 people registered, 56 bags of trash were removed from village streets and parks. Andrea is currently a sophomore at Coral Reef Senior High School as part of the International Baccalaureate Program, a highly rigorous academic program. She has been volunteering for the Zoo Miami Foundation Conservation Teen Scientists Program for two years totaling in over 300 hours and over 2000 interactions. She has aided in promoting the program in South Florida Council by helping with their virtual recruiter program and being interviewed by a local news station about scouting.

Rafe Kotalik Runner-Up The Woodlands, Texas Crew 112, Sam Houston Area Council Rafe Kotalik has shown extraordinary servant leadership in the past year, especially as he guided two units (a Venturing Crew and Scouts BSA troop) through an unprecedented time. These were to give back to the community when it was in dire need from a pandemic and then winter storm. Rafe led significant projects that included over 700 hours of his own time. The service hours for each member of his units averaged over 200 each and it can be directly attributed to Rafe's consistent encouragement. He motivated members of his units, and other local units, to fill food pantry shelves, provide PPE to essential workers, help children in foster care, and ensure that homebound seniors didn't go hungry. He even coordinated a week of service over Thanksgiving. School children, the elderly, our military (at home and abroad), and so many benefited from his supply drives that were then distributed to those in need. Rafe continues to demonstrate that no need is too great and that each Scout can make a difference. For example, within 48 hours of Hurricane Laura's landfall, Rafe was distributing relief supplies that his Crew and Troop members gathered more than 150 miles from his hometown.

Adianez N. Velez Runner-Up Mayagüez, Puerto Rico Crew 39, Puerto Rico Council Adianez is a youth that always strives to serve others. She has been Trust Award Staff for her district, has served as Camp Guajataka Staff for three years helping the future of our beloved program to grow. Adianez has also been part of various service projects in Camp Guajataka on behalf of the National Service Fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, and has helped Animal Sanctuary San Francisco de Asis and Childs Home Jesus de Nazareth in the name of the organization. In Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Mu Chapter, she served as the Vice-president of Service during 2019-2020. After Hurricane Maria, she went to Yabucoa Puerto Rico to help out. After the large earthquake that struck the island, she was part of an emergency relief team, with other Scouts from the Council in Guanica, Puerto Rico. Her Summit project was the biggest blood collection event for the Puerto Rico Blood Bank in 5 years!

John-Aaron Bozanic Extraordinary Venturer of the Year Fountain Valley, California Crew 774, Orange County Council John-Aaron’s Venturing career is one of ultimate service in Venturing, Order of the Arrow, and Conservation. John-Aaron has served as President of Crew 774. He also served on the Western Region, Area 4 VOA as VP Program Support, then as VP Communications. This year John-Aaron received the Hornaday Award Silver Medal. His first project was constructing an environmental education center for Moulton Elementary School. Next, he led a lionfish eradication effort in the Florida Keys. During his third project, he coordinated a two-year effort rebuilding a council camp trail that was destroyed in a wildfire. For his final project, John-Aaron developed the “1,000,000 Pieces of Trash” initiative during a global pandemic. His project resulted in 10,403 people from 29 countries participating in 25,552 hours of service. He exceeded his goal, ultimately removing 1,244,839 pieces of trash. John-Aaron helped thousands of Scouts earn their Messenger of Peace award, fostering international spirit and global community.

2021

National Venturing Leadership Awards The National Venturing Leadership Award is conferred by the National Court of Honor of the Boy Scouts of America upon the nomination of Venturers and Venturing Advisors who have made exceptional contributions to Venturing and who exemplify the Scout Oath and Law at the national level.

National Venturing Committee Boy Scouts of America 16

Amy Hermann Circle Ten Council Garland, Texas

Amy is currently serving as the Southern Region Venturing President. She sets high standards for herself and never fails to deliver. Her strong ability to lead a team has propelled her to strengthen the Venturing program throughout the nation, empowering dozens along the way. She has pioneered several projects including the “Building Council VOA Guide,” creating additional (virtual) social interactions for Venturers during COVID-19, and “SouthCast Live” events. Outside of Venturing, Amy has been involved in Girl Scouts as a youth where she now serves as an adult volunteer and is also part of the Golden Key Honor Society of Southern Methodist University. Amy is a prime example of what the National VLA represents and we are proud of her accomplishments.

Andrew Steckner Lake Erie Council Beachwood, Ohio

Andrew is currently serving as the Central Region Venturing President and will be the incoming National Ventuig President for 2021-2022. Andrew has innovative ideas that improve the Venturing program and he is not afraid to spend the countless hours necessary to meticulously execute those ideas. He has successfully collaborated with Sea Scouting leadership, put together the Central Region Open Fishing Tournament or CROFT, and has utilized his website design and technological skills to improve the online presence of Venturing. Outside of Venturing, Andrew is a member of the BHS Cross Country Team, Ecology Club, FIRST Robotics Team, and is a National Honor Society Tutor. He has given his service and leadership to Venturing, making him well deserving of the National VLA.

Brenna Leary Baltimore Area Council Essex, Maryland

Brenna has shown extraordinary dedication to Venturing over the course of many years. She is currently a member of the Awards and Recognition Committee as part of the National Venturing Committee and has previously served as the Northeast Region Venturing President. Additionally, She has demonstrated a passion for leadership by staffing countless leadership trainings and mentoring other Venturers along her journey. Outside of Venturing, she is a Jump Scale Operations & Marketing Coordinator. It is people like Brenna who are able to truly inspire others by personally offering their leadership skills and we are proud to recognize Brenna with the National VLA.

Gordon Leary Baltimore Area Council Essex, Maryland Gordon is a current Northeast Region Venturing Advisor. He is an exemplary mentor to youth who guides them through their various projects and tasks with ease. He has truly dedicated his service to Venturing, strengthening the Northeast Region, and connecting all regions to work seamlessly as one unified nation program. Outside of Venturing, Gordon is part of the IBM Board of Directors, President of the COMMON Users group, and is part of the reenactment groups. Gordon is an excellent person to receive the National VLA and we are proud to recognize him.

Ian Arnold Mayflower Council Franklin, Massachusetts Ian is the current Northeast Region Venturing President. He has been tremendously supportive in developing the Venturing program both within his region and Nationally. Ian has been a voice of calm and reason through many challenges faced by Venturing while proposing changes and solutions. It is the leadership administered by Ian that helps to invite others into the program and allows everyone to push forward through difficult times. Outside of Venturing, Ian is involved with his church and is active in school groups at his college. Ian is a leadership role model to other youth and well deserving of the National VLA.

Jamie Shearer National Council Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania Jamie has served as a professional for the Boy Scouts of America and the Northeast Region Venturing Staff Advisor. He has shown a true passion for the Venturing program throughout his professional duties. Jamie has even carried this passion for Venturing to volunteer positions on the National Venturing Committee and several other national committees and task forces. Jamie has retired as a professional, but his volunteer commitments still stand strong because he truly enjoys inspiring youth and adults with the goal of bettering the Venturing program. Outside of Venturing, Jamie is a Rotarian, Co-Chair of United Way, and a Board Member of the American Cancer Society. It may seem like it is well overdue but we are happy to finally present Jamie with the National VLA.

Juliana Murillo San Diego Imperial Council San Diego, California Juliana is the current Western Region Venturing President. She has provided outstanding leadership over the Western Region VOA and the National VOA structure that will begin in June, including developing job descriptions for the youth and adult positions. She has also worked to develop a template for crews to use when submitting their application for the National Noteworthy Crew project. Juliana also serves on the Literature Committee for the National Venturing Committee. Outside of Venturing, Juliana played varsity golf in high school. With Juliana’s leadership overseeing the future of Venturing, the organization will see benefits for years to come and we are happy to present her with the National VLA.

Elizabeth Finley Nevada Area Council Elko, Nevada

Elizabeth is the current Western Region Venturing Advisor and also a member of the National Venturing Committee. She is ever cheerful in her leadership and has a strong dedication in her service. Elizabeth supports and encourages the youth throughout all of their plans, improving Venturing in her Region and across the nation. She never overreaches her boundary as an adult, exemplifying how to advise and empower youth to Lead the Adventure. Outside of Venturing, Elizabeth is very involved in her community as co-owner of a local veterinary clinic. She serves as a swimming merit badge counselor, has hosted the Labor Day celebrations for her town of Elko for 14 years, and served as the Elko County Fair Home Arts Department Superintendent of Sewing (youth and adult). We are happy to recognize such a strong community leader who has given so much to the Venturing program with the National VLA. 24

Samantha Troiano Mayflower Council Orono, Maine

Samantha is the current National Venturing Vice President. She has served as an outstanding role model and leader to all of the Region Vice Presidents. She enables them to work effectively with each other and creates a bridge for effective collaboration on projects with the National Venturing Committee. Samantha spearheaded the creation of LEAD to help grow and improve Areas’ ability to work with their councils and garner success. She also worked with the National Venturing Committee to develop a fall recruitment campaign. In addition, Samantha has been a key leader in the restructuring process. Outside of Venturing, she currently works at Dunkin Donuts and is heavily involved with school theatre programs and state production behind the scenes. With the unique and involved leadership style that Samantha brings to the table, it is easy to award her with the National VLA. 25

Previous Recipients of the National Venturing Leadership Award Asterisks (*) are used to denote those who received their Venturing Leadership Award for their service to the Sea Scouting program. Starting in 2017, the new Sea Scout Leadership Award will instead be used to recognize outstanding individuals in that program.

Youth Recipients

Adult Recipients

2020 Ryan Davis (Southern) Tyler Grey (Western) Ella Hirsch (Southern) Lyndsey Nedrow (Northeast) Natalie Nichols (Central) Clare Toman (Northeast) 2019 Pamela Petterchak (Central) Reece Kilbey (Western) Jake Brillhart (Southern) Katelyn St. Louis (Northeast) Hannah Wheaton (Southern) 2018 Lydia Borah (Southern) Ripley Price (Northeast) Dominic Wolters (Central) Savannah McMillan (Southern) 2017 Christopher Mausshardt (Central) Michelle Merritt (Northeast) Erik Saderholm (Northeast) Katie Schneider (Western) Cathie Seebauer (Central) Nate Steele (Central) 2016 Shannon Mulligan (Western) Pratik Vaidya (Western) Christina Vogt (Central) 2015 Edward Abraham (Western) Rachel Eddowes (Southern) Emily Mausshardt (Central) * Peter Schmidt (Central) Elizabeth Wisman (Central)

2020 David Bush (Southern) Julie Dalton (Central) Jim Lynch (Southern) April McMillan (Southern) Bob Sirhal (Northeast) 2019 Scott Sorrels (Southern) Aaron Parks-Young (Southern) Sherry McGugin (Southern) 2018 Robbie DiBiagio (Northeast) Jeff Geralds (Central) Jennifer Hancock (Southern) Jack Furst (Southern) 2017 Russ Hunsaker (Western) Andrew Miller (Northeast) 2016 Wendy Kurten (National Council) Bob Scott (National Council) 2015 Jessica Ayala-Janscha (National Council) Ken Bower (Western) * Keith Christopher (National Council) Angela Elliott (National Council) John Kennedy (Northeast) Ken King (Central) Peter Self (National Council) Don Shepard (National Council) 2009 Keith Gehlhausen (Central) 2008 Roger Bast (Northeast) Greg Taylor (Southern)

Youth Recipients

Adult Recipients

2014 Maddie Culwell (Southern) Jillian Infusino (Western) * William McElligott (Southern) Ryan Mitchell (Southern) Gerry Souser (Northeast) 2013 * Matthew Miller (Southern) Sarah Mittrucker (Central) Annaliese Parker (Western) Cara Sepcoski (Northeast) 2012 * Eva Hogan (Southern) Christine Luczka (Northeast) Josh Nolan (Southern) Dustin Readenour (Central) Brent Uberty (Western) 2011 Dan Carriveau (Central) Gina Curtis (Northeast) David Frolander (Southern) * Vanya Keys (Western) Mackenzie Lardie (Western) Jennifer Lowe Woolley (Western) 2010 Amy Clark (Northeast) Kalla French (Southern) Ben Hayes (Central) Jennifer Lowe (Western) * Connor Rieve (Northeast) 2009 Katelyn Childs (Central) Kyla Mahoney (Northeast) Matthew McGroarty (Western) * Monica Traylor (Southern) John Washburn (Southern) 2008 * Doug Bowman (Central) Dana Friede (Western) Thomas Joyce (Southern)

2008 Jim Virgin (Western) Joseph Vollmer (Central) 2007 Tim Beaty (Central) Charles Dahlquist II (Western) Dana McRae (Western) Tom Mildenhall (Western) Kevin Peterson (Western) Marion Rice (Western) Jim Smith (Western) Charles Thorpe (Southern) Michael Walker* Dan Wilson (Southern) 2006 Michael Barrett Craig Burkhardt (Central) Ian Cheesman (Central) Paul Dillon (Central) * Roberta Dougherty (Southern) John Smith (Central) 2005 Rhoda Clayton (Western) * Richard Cuciti (Western) J. Stephen Fossett (Central) David Wilson (Western) 2004 Dorothy BrownWilliam Daggett (Southern) Ben Jelsema (Southern) * Wm. Lee Popham (Southern) William Robinson (Central) * Carl Shellhorn (Western) Theodore Smith (Northeast) * Walter Whitacre (Southern) 2003 Gregory Carstens (Central) Clayton Cranor (Western) Raymond Derk (Central) Susan Derk (Central) Charles Holmes (National Council) * Cassie Johnson (Southern)

Youth Recipients

Adult Recipients

2008 Andria Neff (Northeast) Amanda Vogt (Central) 2007 Michael Bebeau (Southern) * David George (Western) Robyn Knoll (Western) Aaron Stockwell (Northeast) Christopher Szybisty (Central) 2006 Marguerite Belli (Southern) Brian Casper (Western) Paul Lee (Central) * Jesse Milton (Central) Jess Rumburg (Northeast) 2005 Lee Barrera (Southern) Bridget Degel (Central) Amara DiFrancesco (Western) Amy Frantz (Northeast) * James Houghton (Northeast) 2004 Danielle Bird (Northeast) Joshua Green (Western) Iris Kalkofen (Central) * Christopher Kerzich (Central) Randall Porch (Southern) 2003 Melisa Bures (Western) Thomas Franklin (Southern) * Cyrus Lawyer IV (Northeast) Nathan Petrusak (Central) Thomas Southard (Northeast) Sam Stocker (Central) 2002 Timothy Burchett (Western) Christine Lynne Capen (Northeast) * Katie Hagen (Southern) Marissa Morgan (Central) Robert Rescot (Central) Francesca Anne Scanio (Southern)

2003 Signe Rogers (Central) Matt Szramoski (Northeast) 2002 Kerry Cheesman (Central) Bradley Harris (Western) * William James (Northeast) * Rick Lydecker (Northeast) Jin Matsumoto (Southern) Rod Mortensen 2001 * Jeremiah Crabtree (Northeast) R. William Evans (National Council) F. Melvin Hammond (Western) * Bruce Johnson (Northeast) Robert Legg (Northeast) * Ronald Sunker (Southern) 2000 Ed Burke Jr. (Northeast) Donna Cunningham (Southern) Larry Cunningham (Southern) * Jim Elroy (Western) * Robert French (Western) * Jimmie Homburg (Southern) Richards Miller (Southern) Bob Soldivera (Northeast) * James Umberger (Southern)

Youth Recipients 2001 Daniel Bronstein (Western) Katherine Knuth (Central) Kelly McGovern (Northeast) James ‘Wesley’ Miller (Southern) Kristopher Zahrobsky (Central) 2000 Jonathan Fulkerson (Central) Chad King (Central) * Christopher Sokolov (Western) Gavin Svensen (Northeast) Sylvester Tan (Southern) James Wells (Southern)

LEAD THE ADVENTURE

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