Eight Fort Mill Cub Scouts Receive Supernova Award

On Monday, June 1, 2015, Pack 832 at Philadelphia United Methodist Church in Fort Mill, SC presented eight Cub Scouts with the Dr. Luis Alvarez Supernova Award.

There have been many Scouts to earn the Nova awards, but these eight Scouts are the first in the York District and the Palmetto Council to earn the Supernova Award. To date there have been less than 50 Cub Scouts earn the Supernova Award nationwide. 

To earn the Supernova Award, Scouts are first recommended to earn two Nova Awards. The Nova Awards are awards based on different Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S.T.E.M.) subjects. The awards were created in 2012 to excite the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of America to look at the S.T.E.M. fields as a career choice. Most of the Cub Scouts of Pack 832 completed the Supernova Award by earning the "Science Everywhere" and the "Swing!" Nova Awards.

To earn the Nova Awards, Scouts were required to discuss subjects in different science fields, watch (or read) science material and discuss the items with a counselor. Then, the Scouts had to earn multiple belt loops above and beyond any they earned for rank. For each Nova Award, they were also required to perform a science experiment using the scientific process (or scientific method) for each Nova Award. After earning at least two Nova Awards, the Scouts were then allowed to start work on the Supernova Award.

The Supernova Award takes the Scouts deeper into S.T.E.M. fields. Each Scout was required to do research on Dr. Luis Alvarez, whom this award is named after, as well as 3 additional scientists of their choosing.  The Cub Scouts discussed their findings with their Council approved mentor. They also met a pilot who uses STEM everyday in his career and discussed what they learned with their mentor.

Each Scout was required to earn his Math and Science Academic belt loops and academic pins. Most Scouts also earned the Weather and Geology belt loops and academic pins, the Geography belt loop, and  the Softball belt loop or the Hockey belt loop.

Congratulations, Scouts!  

PALMETTO COUNCIL NAMES SENATOR HAYES AS 2015 DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN, PEYTON MANNING GIVES KEYNOTE SPEECH

The Palmetto Council, Boy Scouts of America recognized Eagle Scout and Senator Wes Hayes as the 2015 Council Distinguished Citizen during their annual recognition dinner event on March 26th. The keynote speech was given by Five-Time NFL MVP quarterback Peyton Manning. The event was held in partnership with Winthrop University and welcomed over 500 donors, civic leaders, and business professionals from across the Upstate of South Carolina.

Eagle Scout and Senator Robert Wesley (Wes) Hayes, Jr. was born in 1952, in Rock Hill, South Carolina, to Robert W. Hayes and Wilbur Kirkland Hayes. He graduated from Rock Hill High School in 1971, after which he attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. While at West Point, Wes was elected President of his Class and served as a Battalion Commander. Upon leaving active service, he became a member of the South Carolina Army National Guard from 1980-2005, in which he held the rank of Colonel.

Soon after he left Fort Bragg, Wes enrolled at the University of South Carolina School of Law. There he was elected President of the Student Bar Association, served on the South Carolina Law Review, and was a member of the Order of the Coif. After graduating in 1983, he practiced at Harrelson, Hayes and Guyton, later founding his own firm in Rock Hill. 

Wes is actively involved in the Rock Hill community. Currently, he serves on the boards of the York County Chapter of the American Red Cross, Westminster Towers, South Carolina Bank and Trust of the Piedmont, and Guardian Fidelity Mortgage Corporation. He has long attended Westminster Presbyterian Church. One of Wes's keen interests has been involvement with the Boy Scouts of America, an organization that played a key role in his own youth. He was Chairman of the York District Boy Scouts of America from 1985-1991 and Council President for the Palmetto Council, Boy Scouts of America 2010-2012. In addition, he served as Chairman of the State Government United Way Campaign for the 2011-2012 Campaign and Chairman of the Rock Hill United Way Campaign in 1992. Wes belongs to a number of other organizations, including the American Legion, Kiwanis, Elks, Gideons, Christian Legal Society, National Lawyers Association, state and county Bar Associations, and Republican Party. Since 1991, he has represented District 15 in the South Carolina Senate, after serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1985-1991. Wes currently chairs the Banking and Insurance Committee. Previously, he chaired the Senate Ethics Committee for a number of years.

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, the league’s only five-time MVP and a 14-time Pro Bowl selection, has earned his place among the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks as the active leader in nearly every statistical passing category. Since entering the NFL in 1998, joining the Indianapolis Colts as the first overall draft pick, Manning has thrown the most touchdown passes (530) in league history in addition to ranking second in wins by a quarterback (179), completions (5,927) and passing yards (69,691).

Manning’s 14 postseason berths rank first among quarterbacks in league annals along with his 91 career 300-yard passing games. Named a first-team All-Pro selection by the Associated Press on seven occasions, Manning was named No. 1 on his native Louisiana's list of all-time greatest athletes by The Times-Picayune.

In each of his three seasons with Denver, Manning has led the Broncos to an AFC West Division title and a first-round postseason bye. During that time, he ranks first in the NFL in regular-season wins (38), passing touchdowns (131) and completions percentage (67.7).

Presenting partners for the event were Williams and Fudge and Founders Federal Credit Union. The dinner co-chairs for 2015 were Mr. Gary Williams (Chairman of the Board, Williams and Fudge) and Mr. Bruce Brumfield (President and CEO, Founders Federal Credit Union).

The event raised nearly $400,000 to support character development and outdoor education programs delivered by the Palmetto Council.

The Palmetto Council is a United Way partner agency delivering character education programs to more than 4,500 families in Spartanburg, Cherokee, Union, York, Lancaster, and Chester Counties.

Victor Durrah honored with Mary L. Thomas Award for Civic Leadership

Victor Durrah Jr. has dedicated himself to living a life of a servant leader.  During the Spartanburg County Foundation's Annual Meeting, Victor was recognized with the Mary L. Thomas Award for Civic Leadership & Community Change.  Victor currently serves at the Senior District Executive of the Daniel Morgan District.  He is also the executive director of Brothers Restoring Urban Hope (BRUH).   Victor was chosen by a selection committee from numerous nominees for his service to disadvantaged youth in the Spartanburg Community.  

The Mary L. Thomas Award is named after Mary Thomas, the chief operating officer of The Spartanburg County Foundation.  This award is a legacy from Thomas’s 2006 recognition as the recipient of the Council on Foundation’s Robert W. Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking. Upon receiving the Scrivner award and $10,000 cash prize, Thomas used these funds as seed money to open The Mary L. Thomas Award for Civic Leadership and Community Change Fund and started a similar recognition program in Spartanburg. Through the support of numerous individuals and the Spartanburg community, Thomas’s initial gift of $10,000 grew to exceed $100,000, which has permanently endowed the award. The award annually honors individuals who, like Mary, are community leaders, innovators, and contributors to positive community change.

Read the Spartanburg Herald-Journal article 

Boy Scout Night at Fluor Field

The Palmetto Council is excited to announce that we will be participating in the 2015 Boy Scout Night at Fluor Field. That evening our Scouts, staff members and their families will be celebrated and recognized around a Greenville Drive baseball game. Boy Scout Night will take place on Tuesday, July 7th and is something you won't want to miss!

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