Leaders

Life Scout TJ D., 14, has been awarded the Medal of Merit by the Boy Scouts of America for using the skills he has learned through scouting to save the life of his grandmother. 

In April 2022, TJ found his grandmother passed out on the floor of her home in Franconia, Virginia. She was delirious and unable to get herself up off the floor of her living room. She didn’t remember falling. Eventually, she pieced everything together and realized that she had fallen from her couch and been stuck between a table and the sofa since the early morning. TJ found her about eight hours after she fell, weak and unable to move. Doctors later diagnosed a kidney stone that she didn’t know she had. She had become extremely septic from it being lodged. Her muscles had also started breaking down because of laying on the floor for so long. Doctors said that if TJ had not found her, started first aid and eventually alerted his parents, his grandmother might not have made it. She was in the hospital for about two weeks recovering from not only the sepsis, but also the kidney stone and muscle weakness.

TJ was awarded the Medal of Merit for his efforts in July and was presented with the medal, uniform knot and certificate during a Court of Honor at Troop 1107 on Aug. 28.

TJ is a very active Life Scout who has been working toward Eagle in Troop 1107 — chartered by St. John’s Lutheran Church in Franconia — since 2020, rarely missing a meeting, camp or service project. He joined scouting as a Tiger Cub with Pack 867 — also chartered by St. John’s —  in 2015. He has attended SeaBase (2022) and National Jamboree (2023) and plans on going on a Northern Tier Trek (2024) as well as Summit Bechtel Reserve (2025) to get the High Adventure Triple Crown. He has also taken ILST and plans to participate in NYLT this January, since he has served his troop as Patrol Quartermaster, APL, PL, Chaplain’s Aide, Bugler, Instructor and ASPL. He is currently the Troop Guide and Assistant Patrol Leader.

He is a freshman at Hayfield Secondary School. When not participating in Scouts or in class, he played Little League Baseball with Central Springfield Little League and is a new member of Springfield’s Babe Ruth League. He is also a member of the Hayfield cross country team and is a novice black belt in taekwondo at Capital Martial Arts Academy.

The NCAC Venturing Court of Honor was held on Sunday. Outstanding Venturers were presented with the Summit, Ranger, Council Venturing Leadership, and Territory Venturing Leadership awards. Congratulations to all of the honorees and the new Council Venturing Officers Association members!

Venturing is a year-round program for young men and women ages 14-20 (or 13 and have completed 8th grade) that provides positive experiences through exciting and meaningful youth-run activities that help them pursue their special interests, grow by teaching others, and develop leadership skills. To learn more visit:
https://www.ncacbsa.org/venturing-program/

Sam B. has been actively pursuing interests in science and technology ever since returning to in-person school after the Pandemic. He actively pursued extracurricular science groups and the Science Fair, and he started to notice: many of the Arrow of Light requirements he was completing for Scouts included science and technology. This spurred Sam to investigate the various STEM Nova awards offered to Webelos and Arrow of Light Scouts.

Sam’s first STEM Nova Award, Cub Scouts Can Code, was made possible through the organization and effort of the National Capital Area Council, which arranged a virtual Coding event. When he completed this and the final Webelos Activity Pin (Super Achiever!), he realized the Charles H. Townes Supernova Award he had been eyeing for over a year could be achieved.

Fortunately for Sam, at this same time Josh Y., a leader in Pack 436, became a Scouts STEM Nova counselor. When Josh scheduled a Nova award eligible event at iFly Montgomery County, this gave Sam the opportunity to earn Up and Away. When Sam saw he could earn a second Nova award – the golden pi device! – he was able to work with Josh to verify the completion of all the Townes Supernova requirements. On May 17, 2023, Sam was thrilled to receive this prestigious award from his Cubmaster Howie Draisen at his final Pack meeting.

Sam proudly wore his Townes medal as he was recognized with his Arrow of Light and bridged from Pack 436 to Troop 1097 on May 24, 2023.

Post 1910 at their recent inaugural banquet.

Gerson Cruz participated in Scouting as an Explorer in Prince George’s Police Department. After he graduated, he was hired by the neighboring police department in Mount Rainier, where he founded an Exploring Post.

“Being an Explorer for Post 600 in Prince George’s County really showed me what it meant to be able to help the community and reach my goal of being a police officer!” said Gerson Cruz.  “My goal had always to give back to the community that gave me so much when I was an Explorer and living in a very low-income family. To now be in charge of Mount Rainier Post 1910 and have 40+ Explorers is surreal to me and makes me realize I finally made it. Without Explorers I don’t believe I’d be where I am in life today and for that I will give this program everything I possibly can!”

In one year, Officer Cruz has recruited 40 youth to the program which demonstrates an extremely successful recruitment effort. In our Council, he is our youngest Exploring Advisor to date.