Council banquet honors exemplary Boy Scouts

The Georgia-Carolina Council of Boy Scouts of America held its annual banquet March 25 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Evans, handing out awards for excellence, leadership and service.

The theme was America's Traditions: Baseball, Apple Pie and Scouting.

"We chose the theme to go along with our good scout team awards," said Cindy Walker, administrative assistant for the council. "Those who make the good scout team are those we want our children to pattern their lives after."

During the ceremony, the 2003 Class of Eagles, Order of the Arrow, Friends of Scouting and Training Wood Badge recipients were recognized.

The council is ranked sixth in the nation for Wood Badge recipients, said Tom Monahon, a training leader.

Monahon also presented six Silver Beaver awards, the highest national award a council can present to an individual whose service and achievements have gone beyond the ordinary routine of service.

The recipients were Robert Cutting, Greg Czech, William George Howell, Ed Vincent, James Smith and Gregory Francisco.

The Young American is awarded to young adults between ages 15 and 25 who achieved excellence in the fields of art, athletics, business, community service, education, government, humanities, music, religion or science.

This year's Young American award was given to Eric Balogh of Troop 8 at Saint Mary on the Hill Catholic School.

The overall top popcorn salesman for the council was John Richards who sold $5,445 worth of popcorn this year to receive The Kernel award.

The Mugged by Mary award is exclusive to the council. The award, a coffee mug with the council's logo, is given by the council's registrar, Mary Adams, to troop leaders who re-charter by the deadline date.

"The council came up with the idea about three or four years ago, and it has worked great, we gave out 90 mugs tonight," Adams said.