MORGAN

Silver Award recipients are Robert (B.J.) Bass, Kelsey Belcher, Robert Bethune, Rhonda Drake, Lainey Sirois, Bryan Walker and Jake White. The Silver Award, which is the highest award in the Venturing program, is comparable in standing to the Eagle Scout Rank.

In order to earn the Silver Award, members participated in numerous high-adventure activities, completed personal development plans and devoted countless hours to community service and conservation.

They have had training in ethics, first aid, wilderness survival, outdoor emergency communications, land navigation, cooking, canoeing and Leave No Trace (minimum impact outdoor ethics).

They have backpacked, rock climbed, orienteered, hiked, ridden horses and camped on numerous weekend outings. They have participated in COPE courses (Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience), which are leadership reaction events.

Crew members had their pick of a variety of high-adventure trips including a 10-day wilderness canoe trek in Ontario, Canada, a 10-day backpacking trek at the Philmont Scout Ranch National High Adventure Base Camp in New Mexico, and the Kanik winter survival trek at Philmont. Some members participated in all three of the high-adventure treks.

Other crew activities included attending winter ski treks to Colorado, caving in unimproved caverns at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and primitive beach camping at Padre Island National Seashore.

The teens also taught first aid and outdoor skills to a variety of scout and community groups. They participated in and staffed a Venturing Leadership Skills Course.

Bass, is the son of Lisa and Dennis Bass of Belton. He is a junior at Belton High School, and plans to attend Texas A&M University in College Station and study biology with the ultimate career goal of becoming a Radiologist.

Belcher is a junior at Belton High School and the daughter of Vicki and Mike Belcher of Belton. Her future plans include college, where she plans to study Plant Protection and Integrated Pest Management, with the ultimate career goal of becoming a Research Scientist and solving world hunger.

Bethune, an Eagle Scout, is the son of Jolene and Gregory Bethune of Temple. He is a 2008 graduate of Belton High School, and currently attends Temple College, where he is studying biotechnology. His future plans include attendance at the Global University campus in Costa Rica, to study pre-medicine, and become a Pediatrician.

Drake is the daughter of Michele and Gary Drake of Troy. She is a senior and varsity cheerleader at Belton High School and will be studying radiology technology at Temple College next year. Her future plans include attending Baylor University and becoming a Pediatrician.

Sirois is a sophomore at Salado High School and the daughter of Stephanie and Robin Hood of Salado. Her future plans include attending the University of Texas, where she plans to study Outdoor Recreation and Wildlife Management, with the career goal of becoming a Texas Parks and Wildlife Ranger.

Walker, an Eagle Scout, is a home-schooled junior and is the son of Cheryl and Lloyd Walker of Belton. His future plans are to become an Army officer and attend either the United States Military Academy at West Point, or to become a member of the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University in College Station.

White is a junior at Belton High School and the son of Stephen White of Belton. His future plans include attending the University of Mary Hardin Baylor, and studying media technology, with the ultimate career goal of becoming a teacher.