Arizona Member Evan Spencer wins National Young American Award
Congratulations to Evan Spencer, of Flagstaff, Arizona, who will travel to San Diego to receive the 2008 National Young American Award. Evan is only the fourth Arizona resident to be so honored since 1968.
This prestigious national award is presented annually by the Learning for Life Foundation to no more than five “young adults in college through age 25 who have achieved excellence in the fields of art, athletics, business, community service, education, government, humanities, literature, music, religion or science and have been involved in service to their community, state, or country that adds to the quality of life.” Evan’s nomination letter, submitted by Wipala Wiki Lodge #432 of the Order of the Arrow (the honor society of scouting), recorded his having displayed “exceptional excellence” in nine of these areas.
Created in 1954 by the U.S. Department of Justice, the award is currently sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America. Anyone eligible may be nominated and need not be affiliated with the Boy Scouts or Learning for Life. Those recommended are first nominated by an individual or an organization for a council (state) level award. Each Boy Scout council may submit one nomination to the Learning for Life Foundation for possible national recognition.
Among his many accomplishments, Evan is the first Eagle Scout to have earned 20 Eagle Palms, past chair of the Arizona Governor’s Youth Commission, recipient of the 2005 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award (youth category), recipient of the Congressional Award Gold Medal, recipient of the President’s Call to Service (Lifetime Service) Award, is a certified PADI Master Scuba Diver and holds a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. Evan graduated first in the class of 2007 at Coconino High School is continuing his education at Bowdoin College in Maine.