In front, from left, are Lisa Porter, Dick Dobbins, Paul Johnston and Rich Hays. In the second row are Heather Van Ness, Regina Warner, Christin Huston, Lisa Cassel and Ben Taylor. In the third row are Cheryl Merchant, Mark Krider, Matt Warner, Ken Taylor, Sue Corbin, Mary Jane Prater and Lonnie Fisher. In the back row are Larry Wooley, Bruce Miller, JR Noel, Rob Bolinger, James Jack, Scott Fox and Bill Curl.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Many Boy Scouts of America units and leaders were honored to receive awards at the annual Lincolnway District Celebration Dinner Feb. 24. Lincolnway District serves Scouting groups in Kosciusko and Whitley counties, and is a division of the Anthony Wayne Area Council, Boy Scouts of America.

Lincolnway District received Gold Journey to Excellence, the top honor in BSA quality program. Local units receiving Gold JTE were Claypool Pack 3770, Columbia City Packs and Troops 3082, 3086, 3088, 3089, 82, 83, 84, 86, and Crew 2084, Leesburg Pack 3729 and Troop 729, North Webster Pack 3726 and Troop 726, Pierceton Pack 3761, South Whitley Troop 85, Syracuse Pack 3828 and Troop 728, Warsaw Packs and Troops 3715, 3731, 3736, 3767, 3772, 3776, 715, 730, 776, and 819.

Earning Silver JTE was Mentone Pack 3782. Earning Bronze JTE were Churubusco Pack 3081 and Troop 81, Columbia City Troop 94, Mentone Troop 782, Milford Troop 747, Pierceton Troop 761 and South Whitley Pack 3085.

Awards and recipients were Scouter of the Year by Rich Hays of North Webster; District Award of Merit by Lonnie Fisher of Leesburg and JR Noel of Milford; Council Patch by Rob Bolinger and Roland McFadden of Mentone, James Jack of Leesburg and Larry Wooley of Columbia City. Receiving the adult Eagle Scouter of the Year were George Robertson and Ben Taylor, Warsaw.

Unit Leader Award of Merit was earned by Rob Bolinger of Mentone Pack 3782, Gary Loosle of Columbia City Troop 86, Paul Mills of Columbia City Troop 84, Mary Jane Prater of Winona Lake Pack 3715, Sheri Reeve of Warsaw Pack 3736, Jake Roberson of North Webster Pack 3726, Jeremy Van Lue of Syracuse Troop 728, and Regina Warner of Columbia City Pack 3089.

Cubmaster Key was earned by Christin Huston of Columbia City Pack 3088, Mary Jane Prater of Winona Lake Pack 3715, Jake Roberson of North Webster Pack 3726, and Regina Warner of Columbia City Pack 3089.

Scouters Training Awards were earned by Rob Bolinger of Mentone Pack 3782, Gary Loosle of Columbia City Troop 86, Bruce Miller of Troop 82, Greg Lewark and Paul Mills of Columbia City Troop 84, Mary Jane Prater of Winona Lake Pack 3715, Dusty Rhoades with Troop 730, Jake Roberson of North Webster Pack 3726, Jeremy Van Lue of Syracuse Troop 728, Heather Van Ness with Pack 3736, Matt Warner and Regina Warner of Columbia City Pack 3089, and Robin Bitting.

Den Leader awards were earned by Brandi Dailey, Travis Dailey, Santiago Gonzales, and Bret Goodyear of Syracuse Pack 3828, Jeremy Hammel, Glenn Shafer and Matt Warner with Columbia City Pack 3089, and Heather Van Ness with Warsaw Pack 3736.

William D Boyce New Unit Organizer Award received by Regina Warner of Columbia City Venturing Crew 2084, BSA National Outdoor Challenge Award earned by Syracuse Troop 728 with Scoutmaster Jeremy Van Lue, and District Committee Scouters Training Award earned by Dusty Rhoades.

Daniel Carter Beard Commissioner Award was received by Amanda Harris of Churubusco, Arrowhead Honor award earned by Lisa Cassel of Warsaw, Commissioner Key earned by Lonnie Fisher of Leesburg and Lisa Porter of Pierceton.

Receiving Service Star pins for their years in the BSA program were 30 years by Cheryl Merchant, Mark Krider and Phillip Krider, 25 years by Micheal Krider, 20 years by Sue Corbin, Don Curry, Scott Fox, Scott Jones, Dusty Rhoades, 15 years by Rich Hays, Dusty Rhoades, Ken Taylor, 10 years by Jim Reeve, Sheri Reeve, Regina Warner, Larry Wooley, 5 years by Rob Bolinger, Paul Mills, Jake Roberson, Jeremy Van Lue, Matt Warner and Regina Warner.

For more information regarding Lincolnway District or the Boy Scouts of America, contact Jim Molebash, assistant Scout executive at 1-800-BSA-AWAC.