The Minsi Trails Council, Boy Scouts of America, presented Silver Beaver awards to Scott Best, of Coplay, and nine others at a council recognition dinner Jan. 27 at East Hills Moravian Church, Bethlehem.

The Silver Beaver is a distinguished service award for registered adult “Scouters” who have made a positive impact on the next generation through their years of service. Presenting the medals were Dr. Arnold Traupman and Glenn Higbie.

Best earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1999 with Troop 57 in Neffs, then accumulated nine Eagle Palms.

Passionate about the Order of the Arrow, Best received a Vigil Honor, Founder’s Award, National Centurion Award and National Distinguished Service Award.

He serves as a member of the Financial Operations and Strategic Planning Subcommittee for the National OA.

Best is employed by the Bethlehem Area School District as supervisor of IT support services.

Michael Caffrey, Charlie Chase and the Rev. Gary Marsh, all of Bethlehem; Jim Korcienski Sr., of Saylorsburg; Bill Coles, of Emmaus; Jim Klunk, of Kutztown; Dawn Phillips, of Effort; Francis Oquendo, of East Stroudsburg; and William Schwab, of Lehighton, were also honored with Silver Beaver medals.

Outstanding Eagle Scout awards were presented by council advancement chair Platte Moring and Gerald Sill, who had previously received the honor, to Donald W. Snyder, of Orefield, former president of LCCC and former Pennsylvania representative, and to Dr. Ronald T. Hersh Jr., a Bethlehem DMD prosthodontist. As Eagle Scouts, they were recognized by the National Eagle Scout Association committee for their outstanding lifetime achievements at the local, state and regional levels.

A retired Bethlehem Steel executive, Edward C. Cool was bestowed with the Alumnus of the Year Award by Dr. Arnold Traupman. According to Scouting Alumni Association, the award was established to recognize alumni of the Boy Scouts of America “who have used the skills and values they learned through their association with Scouting to make significant and long-lasting contributions to our nation through their careers, avocations and Scouting.”

Medals of Merit, for “demonstrating an act of service of a rare or exceptional character reflecting an uncommon degree of concern for the well-being of others,” were presented to five deserving candidates by Moring and the Rev. George Spieker.

Robin Ruch, assistant district commissioner for North Valley District (Whitehall area), was honored for his quick action in July 2016 when he assisted his coworker and neighbor Stephen Meyer who had severely cut himself on the left forearm while working with a radial arm saw. Ruch controlled the bleeding by raising the victim’s arm and binding the wound with padding and roller gauze. He also kept the victim conscious and alert while awaiting help. His coworker is still recovering from the injury.

Star Scout Malachi Yost of Troop 242, Cherryville, was grocery shopping with his mother and grandfather when she suffered a seizure. He helped his mother to the floor and called out for someone to call 911. The youth calmly laid his mother on her side to prevent choking using the skills he had learned while earning his first aid merit badge. Soon an ambulance arrived and rushed Yost’s mother to the hospital.

Second Class Scout Tyler Mann and his father, Unit Commissioner Bradley Mann, Troop 99, Pocono District, and Life Scout Morgan C. Cowen of Troop 140, Allentown, were honored as well.

For information about Minsi Trails Council, Boy Scouts of American, visit minsitrails.com.