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Annual Council Awards
Call for Nominations: Nominate Outstanding Council Volunteers for Recognition at our Council Fellowship Event!
Process and Important Dates
This is your chance to recognize the outstanding individuals who dedicate their time and effort to serve youth and Scouting in exceptional ways. Nominations will be accepted from May 15 until October 15 of each year. During this period, we encourage you to reflect on the remarkable contributions of those within our Scouting community and submit your nominations accordingly.
The Grand Canyon Council takes great pride in honoring volunteer Scouters who demonstrate exceptional service and leadership qualities. Through their commitment, they inspire and empower the youth in our programs to reach their fullest potential. Remember, the impact of your nominations is profound, but we kindly request that you refrain from notifying a nominee of their nomination. This precaution ensures that disappointment is avoided should the award not be granted. Volunteer recognition is honored at the Council Recognition and Fellowship in February annually.
Discover Council Honors awards such as The Silver Beaver, The Award of Merit, The North Star, Commissioner/Coach Award of Excellence in Unit Service and others listed below for details and nomination information.
2025 Annual Council Nomination Award Flyer
Nominations open May 15, 2025 to October 15, 2025
The North Star Award
A National Court of Honor award is given to non-Scouters (not currently registered as Scouter) to recognize individuals for significant service or contributions to the Council. Examples include contributing land for a new service center, for the CPA who has served the council for years, or an attorney who contributes their legal services and expertise. The candidate’s standing in the community is considered (business, professional, civic, religious, educational, fraternal, veteran, rural, and other fields, exclusive of Scouting.) Outstanding service of exceptional character to youth within the territory under the council’s jurisdiction is considered. (No limit)
Send your completed application to awards@scoutingaz.org
The Silver Beaver Award
A National Court of Honor Award of the Boy Scouts of America. Recipients of this award are registered Scouters who have impacted the lives of youth through service at the council level. This includes council leadership and committee engagement and leadership of council events or leadership elevating youth at the statewide level. Training Courses completed or staffed and Scouting Recognition/Honors are fundamental to receiving consideration. Outstanding service of exceptional character to youth outside of Scouting and detailed information on the nominee’s standing in the community is required and evaluated. Letters of recommendation are requested. (1/60 units)
The Scouting Arizona, Grand Canyon Council online form below replaces the paper and PDF forms used in prior years. Your submission goes straight to the awards committee for review!
The Award of Merit
Awarded 1/25 units + fraction to each of our 24 Communities
The Award of Merit in Grand Canyon Council is a council award given to a registered Scouter who has demonstrated outstanding service within the council. Eligible candidates in their community (previously, districts) include volunteers in council leadership and/or committee member positions (For example; Advancement, Leadership & Development, Program, Membership, etc.) in addition to Unit Service positions which includes Community Commissioners and Unit Coaches.
Youth service may consist of a single plan or decision that contributed vitally to the lives of a large number of youths. For example, planning and leading a series of Camporees or Pinewood derby) or given to a smaller group over an extended period. For example, long term service on the district Eagle Board or as a unit leader who also supported council wide activities.
Consideration is given to the nominee’s Scouting position. The corresponding opportunity to render outstanding service beyond the expectations of that Scouting position is reviewed. Scouting training awards are considered. Service to youth in Scouting and the community is essential. For example, the President of the Rotary Club, the Lay Minister at Church, the Red Cross Campaign leader, the PTA, etc. This is often the first council honor a Scouter receives. (1/25 units)
Send your completed application to awards@scoutingaz.org
BSA Alumnus of the Year
The Council Alumnus of the Year Award is given for exceptional service to the alumni movement on a council-wide basis. Each council may select one nominee for this award annually.
Eligibility: Primary consideration (80%) is given to those that:
- Remind Scouting alumni to maintain a lifetime relationship with Scouting, which enables Scouting to remain healthy for future generations.
- Scouting promotion, contributing significantly to the promotion and/or advancement of the BSA alumni program and activities at a Council level over a sustained period of time through word and/or deed.
- Bring Scouting Alumni back to the Campfire.
- Career and/or advocation, such as achieving high honor or distinction in their chosen profession.
- Community service, including contributions to Scouting or other community efforts or organizations.
- Nominees must be a BSA alumnus which means he or she has been positively and personally impacted by the BSA in some way.
A maximum of one recipient may be awarded per council per year. The nomination is not to be submitted posthumously. Nominations are submitted to the individual Council BSA Alumni Committee for their selection process. Approved nominations are forwarded to the BSA Alumni Association Committee for consideration. Those approved will be returned with a personalized certificate and added to the Council Alumnus of the Year recipients. Procedure The completed nomination form will be submitted to the Council Honors Selection Committee for evaluation and approval.
Send your completed application to awards@scoutingaz.org
Commissioner/Coach Award of Excellence in Unit Service
The Commissioner/Coach Award of Excellence in Unit Service is awarded to a Community Commissioner or Unit Coach who provides exemplary unit service to a unit which has been assigned by the Community Commissioner, and by developing a Unit Service plan through the use of the current Boy Scouts of America Commissioner Tools.
Focus areas of Excellence include General Requirements, Unit Service Criteria and Personal Growth and Development listed as part of the nomination form. The nomination form is to be initiated and completed by the Unit Coach then submitted to Community Commissioner for approval before it is submitted to the Council Honors Committee for final approval. Community Commissioners also complete and submit the nomination form to the Council Honors Selection Committee for final evaluation and final approval. Procedure The completed nomination form will be submitted to the Council Honors Selection Committee for evaluation and approval.
Send your completed application to awards@scoutingaz.org
Distinguished Commissioner/Coach
The Distinguished Commissioner Service Award is the highest recognition that can be given to a Community Commissioner or Unit Coach.
It recognizes an individual who has consistently engaged in distinguished and exceptional commissioner service resulting in significant, positive impact on youth, units and/or council. In determining the value of such service, consideration must be given to the candidate recipient’s commissioner position and the corresponding opportunity to render outstanding and exceptional service beyond the expectations for that commissioner position.
- In order to be considered for the Distinguished Commissioner Service Award, a candidate recipient must be nominated by a currently registered adult member of the Boy Scouts of America. Commissioners/coaches may not nominate themselves.
- The Distinguished Commissioner Service Award may be awarded once to a commissioner/coach.
- There is no restriction on the number of Distinguished Commissioner Service Awards that may be awarded by a local council during a calendar year.
In order to be considered for the Distinguished Commissioner Service Award, a candidate recipient shall:
- Be currently registered as a commissioner or have served as a commissioner within the last five years. When nominating a former commissioner, the nomination must be based on the nominee’s performance while a registered commissioner/coach.
- Possess the Commissioner Key (possession of the Commissioner Key automatically includes possession of the Arrowhead Honor).
Procedure: The completed nomination form will be submitted to the Council Honors Selection Committee for evaluation and approval.
Send your completed application to awards@scoutingaz.org
Meritorious Star Service Star
The Meritorious Service Star, created in 2016 by the Grand Canyon Council, is a council award presented in the same manner that Silver Beaver is a national award presented by councils. The award is available to Scouters who render service of an outstanding nature at the UNIT or COUNCIL levels or OVERALL service. It usually precedes the Silver Beaver and follows the Award of Merit.
A) Must be currently registered in Scouting America.
B) At least two years of successful service as a key leader (Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, crew advisor, committee chair, community commissioner, unit coach, council committee chair or team lead), where “successful service” indicates that the unit or program grew or the council committee/team consistently hosted successful events; OR
C) Led an event that was unusually successful OR coordinated several such events over time; OR
D) Provided substantial service over an extended period of time (e.g., 5 years or more) at the unit council level; OR
E) Completed unusual service that in the judgment of the awards committee justifies the award of a Meritorious Service Star.
F) A youth member may be awarded the Meritorious Service Star for exceptional service in the Order of the Arrow or council Officers Association.
A) If a unit leader, the Unit Leader Award of Excellence
B) If a council volunteer, the Award of Merit.
C) For volunteers in unit service only, exceptional service at the unit and at events can be recognized and in this case the committee may waive the expectation of the Unit Leader Award of Excellence or the Award of Merit.
The Distinguished Service Star
The Distinguished Service Star, created in 2016 by the Grand Canyon Council, is a lifetime achievement award presented in the same manner that Silver Beaver is a national award presented by councils. It is the highest council honor for most volunteers and is available to Scouters who render service of an outstanding nature at the UNIT, COUNCIL or OVERALL service.
- The candidate must be currently registered in Scouting America.
- The candidate must have completed:
A) At least 15 years of service at the unit level, including ten years of successful service as a key unit leader (Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, crew advisor, committee chair) where “successful service” indicates that the unit was unusually active and grew over the relevant period; OR
B) At least 15 years of service at the council level, including at least two years of successful service as a key volunteer (community commissioner, council president, council commissioner, committee chair, team lead) where “successful service” means that the council grew or the council committee consistently hosted successful events; OR meets the service component and led multiple council or events that were unusually successful; OR
C) Completed at least 15 years of unusual service that in the judgment of the awards committee justifies the award of a Distinguished Service Star.
A) Any leader, the Silver Beaver Award;
B) If the leader does not have the Silver Beaver Award then the following may be acceptable:
I) If a unit leader, the Unit Leader Award of Excellence and the Meritorious Service Star;
II) If a council volunteer, the Award of Merit and the Meritorious Service Star over a period of at least 15 years and is most often awarded to Silver Beaver or Meritorious Service Star recipients who have continued to give distinguished service. The award is made available annually on the basis of 1 for each 250 traditional units or fraction thereof. The council need not present all the awards to which it is entitled each year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Judy Walden, Council Recognition Chair at JWScouter1@gmail.com for any inquiries.
Nominations are due by October 15 each year. We recommend starting the process early to allow time to gather any required information. If you need a Scouter’s training and service record to complete a nomination form, please contact Lisa Knight, Customer Service Specialist.
For council honors, final decisions are made by the Council Key 3, based on recommendations from the volunteer Honors and Awards Committee, which scores nominations objectively. Other awards may follow different processes, typically outlined on Awards Central.
Council honors and select awards are presented at the annual Council Recognition and Fellowship, held each February. Other awards may be presented at special events, roundtables, or unit meetings, depending on what is most appropriate.
Past Honorees for All National and Council Awards
Unit Leader Training and Tenure Recognition: To learn more about how to qualify and apply for unit leader training and tenure awards, visit our dedicated page at: https://support.scoutingaz.org/main/unit-leader-awards/