Jayhawk Area Council

Serving Scouting in the Topeka, Kansas area

News

Calling for Council Award Nominations

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The Council Advancement Committee is seeking nominations for the following awards for distinguished leadership and service: including the Silver Beaver Award, Whitney M. Young, Jr. Service Award, William H. Spurgeon, III Exploring Award, Venturing Leadership Award, and Sea Scout Leadership Award. Nominations are due December 15th. Please consider nominating your Scout leaders, volunteers, and friends in recognition for their service in Scouting in the Jayhawk Area Council. A brief description for each award and a link to each nominating form is provided below:

Silver Beaver Award

The Silver Beaver Award was introduced in 1931 and is a council‐level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America.  Recipients of this award are registered Scouters who have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given to the council.

Silver Beaver Nomination Form

Current listing of Jayhawk Area Council’s Silver Beaver Recipients

Whitney M. Young, Jr. Service Award

The Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award recognizes outstanding service by an adult or an organization for demonstrated involvement in the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for youth from rural or low-income urban backgrounds.

Whitney Young Award nomination form

William H. Spurgeon, III Exploring Award

The council may present the Spurgeon Award to men and women who have rendered outstanding leadership to the Exploring program either as an Explorer post adult leader or as a district Exploring adult volunteer. 

Spurgeon Award nomination form

Venturing Leadership Award

The Venturing Leadership Award recognizes outstanding leadership and involvement by a youth or adult in a Venturing Crew (youth must be between 14 and 21). Must be a primary member in the Jayhawk Area Council and have contributed significantly to their unit and community.

Venturing Award nomination form

Sea Scout Leadership Award

The Sea Scout Leadership Award recognizes outstanding leadership and involvement by a youth or adult in a Sea Scout or Sea Scouter for at least one year. Must be a primary member in the Jayhawk Area Council and have contributed significantly to their unit and community.

Sea Scout Award nomination form

Please submit your nomination by:

1. Hand them to your District Executive or Advancement Chair.

2. E-mail to joseph.blasko@scouting.org

3. Mail to: Jayhawk Area Council
                 ATTN:  (Please Name Award) Selection Committee
                 1020 SE Monroe Ave.
                 Topeka, KS 66612

2024 Class of Topeka’s Top 20 Under 40

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Topeka’s Top 20 Under 40 Selection Committee Members have been diligently working this summer on reviewing the applications that were submitted for Topeka’s Top “20 Under 40” Class of 2024. Last week, the list of applicants was narrowed to the 20 to be honored this year.  Each year brings an impressive number of quality applicants, and committee members always remark how challenging it is to narrow the list to just 20. There are many great things going on in Topeka and the story of each applicant is part of that narrative. 

On behalf of the 20 Under 40 Steering and Selection Committee, I am pleased to announce the 2024 Class of Topeka’s Top 20 Under 40. 

Kaitlin Alegria – Director of Development, Kansas Children’s Discovery Center
Joe Beasley – Trust Officer, BOK Financial
Joshua Beshears – Repairs Manager, Topeka Habitat for Humanity
John Cantrell -Partner, Topeka Auto Glass, Topeka Tint Company and Iron Man Promotions
Pedro Concepcion – Chief Operating Officer, The Wheel Barrel LLC and recently selected CEO of NOTO Arts & Entertainment District  
Lauren Edelman – Director of the Aleshire Center for Leadership and Community Engagement, Washburn University
Emersen Frazier – Director of Health Equity and Policy, Stormont Vail Health
Kristin Hammer – Community Engagement Coordinator, YWCA Northeast Kansas
Bonnie “Bekah” Henderson – Barista, Dialogue Coffee House
Thaina Dos Santos Jensen – Acute Care Registered Nurse, Stormont Vail Health
Randi Johnson – Special Agent, Kansas Bureau of Investigation
Marisol Marcelo – Director of Marketing/Public Relations/Preplanning Specialist, Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home
Abriona Markham – Executive Director/Doula, Topeka Doula Project
Blake Porter – Corporate Counsel, Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka
Jill Rice – Director of Ministries, Fellowship Hi-Crest
Kayla Schadegg – New Parent & Medical Outreach Specialist, Down Syndrome Innovations
Kristen Shook – Programs Manager of Work for Success, Mirror. Inc.
Christopher Stemler – Owner, Trident Partnerships
Gabrielle Tanner – Principal, Topeka Public Schools – Sheldon Head Start Child Development Center & Pine Ridge Prep Preschool
Pete Ziegler – Owner, Ziegler Family Dentistry

If you haven’t seen the announcements posted yesterday that include a photo and bio of each Honoree, each individual is posted on Facebook.  We hope you will join us in celebrating these young leaders and influencers on November 14, 2024 at the Maner Conference Center – Sunflower Ballroom. Reception begins at 5:30 p.m. with dinner and program to follow at 6:30 p.m.

To make a donation in their honor, purchase a ticket to the event or to become a sponsor visit https://jayhawkcouncil.org/20under40/. Topeka’s 20 Under 40 is a signature fundraising event benefiting the Jayhawk Area Council Boy Scouts of America.

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