District News
Nominations for Sunflower District Awards Due March 12
We are excited to continue the adult volunteer, youth, and community awards for the Sunflower District, Jayhawk Area Council, Scouting America. Click HERE to electronically submit your nominations.
Nominations are due on or before Thursday, March 12, 2026. Nominations received after this date will not be accepted for this Scouting year. We need the nominations to ensure that all awards are ordered by the time of the award presentation at our Sunflower District Dinner on Thursday, April 2, 2026. Award winners will be alerted ahead of time in order to plan on attending.
Award Categories
Adult
- Outstanding Scoutmaster Award (Any registered Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster within the Sunflower District)
- Outstanding Cubmaster Award (Any registered Cubmaster or Assistant Cubmaster within the Sunflower District)
- Outstanding Den Leader Award (Any registered Den Leader or Assistant Den Leader within the Sunflower District)
- Outstanding Scouter Award (Any registered volunteer Scouter within the Sunflower District)
- Outstanding Commissioner (Any registered Unit, District or Council Commissioner within the Sunflower District)
- Outstanding District Committee Member (Any registered Sunflower District Committee Member)
- Outstanding Popcorn Kernel (Encouraged to be registered as a Unit Committee Member)
- Outstanding Chartered Organization
Youth
- Go Getter Award (Any registered Scout within the Sunflower District)
- Order of the Arrow (Any registered Scout, who is an OA member within the Sunflower/OT OA Chapter)
- Above and Beyond Award (Any registered Scout within the District showing outstanding service to others)
- Outstanding Eagle Scout (Youth still involved in the Troop)
- Frontiersman Award (Scouts that attended troop campouts, summer camp, district campouts -consistently)
Community
- On My Honor Award (To any Outstanding Scouting Alumni)
- Outstanding Eagle in the Community (Nominated any Eagle Scout of any age)
- Scouting Salute to Outstanding Community Leader
- Outstanding Benefactor Award (Any longtime donor)
- Outstanding Friend of Scouting (any Scouting donor)
Special Awards
- Unit Leader Award of Merit (The Unit Leader Award of Merit replaces the Scoutmaster and Venturing Crew Advisor award of merit programs. This new recognition has revised requirements, and Cubmasters and Skippers are also eligible for this recognition.) (See additional nomination form)
- District Award of Merit (Any registered volunteer Scouter within the Sunflower District that has given at least five years of service to the Scouting and/or District – Highest Award in District) (See additional nomination form)
Scare-O-Ree
You are invited to the Scare-O-Ree; hosted by the Bison District
A 1-MILE HAUNTED TRAIL
Where: 8602 KINGMAN RD, OSKALOOSA, KS
Who: Open to the Public and Scouts
Cost: $10 NON-SCOUTS | $5 SCOUTS
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE GATE, CONCESSIONS AVAILABLE, ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE JAYHAWK AREA COUNCIL!
WEAR STURDY SHOES & DRESS FOR THE WEATHER!
OCT. 31 & NOV. 1
8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
FRIENDLY FRIGHTS: SAT, NOV. 1
4:00 PM 6:00 PM
(Perfect for Cub Scouts & neurodivergent guests)
Gray to Join Jayhawk Area Council Staff
Scout Executive Wayne Pancoast is pleased to announce the addition of Caleb Gray as the Pony Express District Executive effective August 18, 2025. His responsibilities include membership, fundraising, and program support for Marshal, Nehama, Potawatomie and portions of Wabaunsee counties.
Caleb studied at University of Arkansas where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science. After serving numerous positions in the food research industry, the “Scouting bug” never left him, and he chose to make a career change to youth service.
Caleb is an Eagle Scout currently residing in Sabetha, KS. He has served as an Assistant Scoutmaster in Troop 48 in Prairie Grove, Arkansas and Troop 77 in Sabetha, Kansas. As a youth in Arkansas, he was active in the Order of the Arrow Lodge receiving his Vigil Honor. He served two summer camps as staff; Camp Orr in the Westark Area Council and our own Falley Scout Reservation. While in college, he joined Alpha Phi Omega, a national service fraternity affiliated with Scouting America serving in numerous leadership roles. He was recognized as with the E. Fay Jones Service to Scouting Award by Alpha Phi Omega.
Please welcome Caleb Gray to the Jayhawk Area Council Family.
Theisen to Join Jayhawk Area Staff
Scout Executive Wayne Pancoast is pleased to announce that Nicholas Thiesen has been hired as the Sojadi District Executive effective May 20, 2025.
Nick Theisen (pronounced Tyson) graduated from ITT Technical with an associate degree in Computer Aided Drafting along with some additional certifications. He currently lives in Post Falls, Idaho and has spent the last ten years working for Buck Knives, Inc.
Nick has a combined 25 years of Scouting experience. He is an Eagle Scout, Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow and is Wood Badge trained. He has served in numerous volunteer roles including Assistant Scoutmaster, Den Leader and Unit Commissioner. As a commissioner, he has earned his doctorate at the College of Commissioner Science and has most recently served as an Assistant District Commissioner in charge of recruiting. The den he served as den leader recently crossed into a troop. He is a District Award of Merit recipient and has earned the Arrowhead Award, Commissioner’s Key and Distinguished Commissioner. This year, he took the inaugural online Commissioner Seabadge.
Nick is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He has served on the honor guard and held numerous roles including Grand Knight. He is excited to join the Jayhawk Area Council.
Please welcome Nick to our council.
Ian Lamb Receives Promotion
It is with mixed emotions that I announce Ian Lamb has been promoted to the position of Field Director for the W. D. Boyce Council in Peoria, Illinois. In his new role, he will serve on the council’s management team and provide direct supervision to the field staff covering 14 counties in central Illinois. He will begin his new assignment on May 6.
Ian joined the Jayhawk Area Council on August 16, 2018 as the District Executive for the newly created Sunflower District. He was promoted to the position of District Director on January 1, 2022 with primary district service for the Pony Express District. He has also covered the Sojadi District during his tenure on the Jayhawk Area Council Staff. In addition to his district assignment, Ian has been our staff advisor for the council’s annual product sale and for the Dzie Hauk Tonga Lodge of the Order of the Arrow.
Ian is an Eagle Scout from Haysville, KS. He and his wife Amira currently live in Lawrence, KS. He earned his Bachelor of the Arts degree in Sport Management from Wichita State University. Ian also holds an Associate of Arts degree from Cowley College. He served as an Assistant Webelos Den Leader for Pack 328 in Arkansas City, KS for two years. He is Wood Badge trained through our council course and was inducted as a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow through our Lodge.
Please join me in congratulating Ian and Amira as they embark on their next chapter.
Wayne R. Pancoast
Scout Executive
Scouting America, Jayhawk Area Council
