Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

Long-time Scouts volunteer Scott Zuelzke has been honored for his years of service with the Silver Beaver Award.

The award was created by the Boy Scouts of America to recognize outstanding adult volunteers for service, Zuelzke said.

Since 1995, Zuelzke has served at the district level in the Frontier District, which includes Autauga and Chilton counties and a portion of Elmore County.

He was one of five nominees chosen to be honored in the Tukabatchee Council this year.

“I was kind of shocked,” Zuelzke said. “It’s not really something I think about. I don’t work for awards … It meant a lot to me because it was something I wasn’t expecting. I am very appreciative of the recognition.”

He sets up board review interviews for potential Eagle Scouts and approves potential Eagle Scout projects, which are completed before the board review.

“The Eagle project is a community service project where the scout gets to demonstrate his leadership, planning and organizational skills,” Zuelzke said. “He gets to put what he has learned to the test.”

Zuelzke said he enjoys volunteering because it is a way to give back.

He said giving back to his community and those who have helped him was emphasized when he was a scout.

“I was a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout, and I’m an Eagle Scout,” Zuelzke said.

Zuelzke and his brother received their Eagle Scout ranks on the same day.

“We were the first two brothers ever in that district to receive Eagles at the time,” Zuelzke said.

Zuelzke is also the charter organization representative liaison for Troop 57 and Pack 57 in Clanton that are sponsored by First United Methodist Church.