Awards and Recognition

Founder’s Award

Introduced at the 1981 National Order of the Arrow Conference, the Founder's Award recognizes Arrowmen who have given outstanding service to their lodge. The award is reserved for an Arrowman who demonstrates that he or she personifies the spirit of selfless service, as advocated by founder E. Urner Goodman and cofounder Carroll A. Edson.

The award is a handsome bronze medallion bearing the likenesses of E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson, with a wooden base and a brass plate suitable for engraving. Available for uniform wear is a gold-colored arrow suspended from a red ribbon.

Lodges may petition the National Order of the Arrow committee to present between two and four awards annually, depending on the number of members in the lodge. If the lodge presents more than one award, at least one must be awarded to a youth under the age of 21.

2018 - Nate Frueh, John Gunyon

2019 - Noah Gudenschwager, Justin O’Rourke 

2020 - Kolden Severson, Julus Pahl

2021 - David Stracener, Connor Valenta

James E. West Fellowship Award

James E. West was appointed to the position of Chief Scout Executive in 1910 by the founding leadership of Scouting in America. West worked with Sir Robert Baden-Powell, Daniel Carter Beard, Ernest T. Seton, and many interested community leaders to give direction to the infant program of Boy Scouts of America. On January 2, 1911, West and others formed the National Council, B.S.A. During that year the Scout Oath, Law, badges, and fundamental policies were established. Under his leadership over the next 33 years, Scouting grew and matured into the program we recognize and enjoy today.

The West Fellowship award is available for gifts of $1,000 or more to a council endowment fund. The gift must be in addition to - and not replace or diminish - the donor's annual Friends of Scouting support. In Bigfoot Lodge, patch sales from the annual James E. West fellowship flap go towards the council endowment fund. The lodge then selects members of the lodge based on dedication and service to the lodge to be recognized with this award.

The James E. West Fellowship Award is an 8-by-10-inch certificate, personalized with the donor's name, date of gift, and council name. In addition, there will be a distinctive lapel pin/charm and an embroidered square knot for uniform wear. While it is a national recognition, the James E. West Fellowship award is authorized and presented by the local council.

2018 - Adam Valenta

2019 - Jared Price, Callie Fritchen, Andrew Fritchen

2020 - David Stracener, Matthew Harvey, Julus Pahl

2021 - Asher Christensen, Eben Christensen

R.D. Dunkin Leadership in Service Award

This award is designed to recognize those within Section G9 who go far beyond their immediate responsibilities as Arrowmen and, by doing so, have laid a path of excellence for other Arrowmen to follow. The award is named after R.D. Dunkin, who believed that young people could grow to exceptional strengths and reach their full potential with the right combination of leadership, education, mentorship, and love. R.D. Dunkin served as the chairman of the Central Region of the Order of the Arrow for sixteen years and is responsible for shaping the region’s structure and program into what it is today.

Kolden Severson, Class of 2021

Eugene Woehrle, Class of 2023

To learn more about the R.D. Dunkin Leadership in Service Award visit https://sectiong9.oa-bsa.org/about/rd-dunkin-recipients/

Arrowman and Adviser of the Year Awards

The Arrowman and Adviser of the Year awards are presented every year at Yeti Fest to members of the lodge based on their service and dedication to the Order of the Arrow in the previous year. The plaque features a black velveteen double matting and a beautiful mahogany finish frame with Bigfoot in front of the moon.