-Accolades went to three members of BSA Venturing Crew 378 of Terrytown this past month. Shannon Debenport, a resident of Terrytown and a student of Louisiana Tech in Ruston, was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout on March 8th, at the Gretna United Methodist Church. Shannon is a member of Venturing Crew 378 and Boy Scout Troop 378 - both sponsored by the Gretna United Methodist Men of Terrytown. He graduated with honors from Holy Cross High School in May 2003. His Eagle project was "Socks for Pops"- collecting socks and underclothing for the men of several homes of senior citizens - among them the Stonebridge Convalescent Center and Meadowcrest Living Center. On March 16th, the Southeast Louisiana Council, Boy Scouts of America, held their annual council-wide banquet at the Pontchartrain Center. Two members of Crew 378 were recognized as 2003 recipients of the Young American Award. This award is a National Honor given to young adults between the ages of 15 and 25 years of age, and is not a Scouting award- although Scout may earn it. Criteria to be met are exceptional excellence in one or more fields of art, athletics, business, religion, science, education, community service, government, humanities, and literature; an above-average scholastic grade point average; involvement of service to community, state, or country; and a developed sense of leadership. One of the recipients, Stacy Renee Meyers, Crew 378, is a junior at Cabrini High School. She serves as the youth president of Crew 378, has earned the Outdoor Bronze Award, and Venturing's Gold Award. Stacy is in the Honors program at Cabrini, and has a scholarship to Oklahoma State University's Upward Bound Math and Science summer program- which she will attend this year for the 3rd year in a row.

Stacy has been a member of the Jefferson Black Box Theater and Jefferson Theater for Performing arts, Cabrini High School's French Club and Acapella Choir, and has earned a Varsity letter for bowling and is a member of the 2003 State Championship bowling team. She plans to attend Northwestern Louisiana State University, with a scholarship, where she will major in anthropology or sociology. Perryn Olson, another Young American Award recipient, is an Associate Advisor of Crew 378, and is a graduate of Brother Martin High School and Loyola University, earning a degree in Graphic Design. Perryn is an Eagle Scout of Troop 278, and has earned Venturing's Outdoor Bronze Award. He is working full time for a local Westbank design firm. As a Scout, he serves as Cataouatche District (Westbank) Camping Chair and also helps train new Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venturing adult leaders. Along with three other members of Crew 378, Perryn will experience canoeing in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota/Canada this summer with Venturers from across the New Orleans area. All three of these young adults are exceptional Scouts, and have given much back to the community already. We are very proud of them. The BSA Venturing program is a high adventure, multi-experience program for young adults, ages 14 to 21, male and female, with no prior Scouting experience needed. If you would like more information on Crew 378, please visit our website @ www.vc378.com or call Peggy Reeves, Crew Advisor, at ###-####.