Washington Crossing Council, BSA > Resources > Order of the Arrow > Lodge Awards & Programs

OA Awards & Programs

The Youth/Adult of the Year Award recognizes Arrowmen who have impacted the Lodge, Chapter, and Units in a positive way and who best exemplify the obligation of the Order of the Arrow.  Youth and Adult of the Year Awards are presented at the annual Lodge Family Banquet.

The Youth of the Year Award recipient is selected by the Lodge Executive Committee and the Adult of the Year award recipient is selected by the Lodge Adviser.  All active members are welcome to submit nominations for both awards any time before the LEC meeting in November. Nominate an Arrowman online for Youth or Adult of the Year.

The Order of the Arrow Handbook states that “The Vigil Honor is a high mark of distinction and recognition reserved for those Arrowmen who, by reason of exceptional service, personal effort, and unselfish interest, have made distinguished contributions beyond the immediate responsibilities of their position or office to one or more of the following: their lodge, the Order of the Arrow, Scouting, or their Scout camp. Under no circumstances should tenure in Scouting or the Order of the Arrow be considered as reason enough for a Vigil Honor recommendation.”

Vigil Honor members are recognized by our Lodge during one of our Ordeal weekends.  Eligible brothers are selected by a youth committee annually and all Lodge members are welcome to submit a nomination by the end of each calendar year to the Committee for consideration.  Nominees must have been Brotherhood members for two years prior to the Vigil Call Out, typically held at the first Ordeal weekend of the year. More information can be found on the national Order of the Arrow website.

The Founder’s Award was created in 1981 by the National Order of the Arrow Committee to honor and recognize those Arrowmen who have given outstanding service to the lodge.  The award is reserved for a member who demonstrates to their fellow Arrowmen that they memorialize in their everyday life the spirit of achievement as described by the Order’s founders, Dr. E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson and recognizes those Arrowmen, youth and adult, who have impacted the Lodge in a positive and lasting way. This is a rare and distinguished honor presented to recognize the spirit of our Founders visible in worthy Arrowmen.

All active members are eligible for this nationally recognized award which is presented by our Lodge at the annual Lodge Family Banquet. Founder’s Award recipients are selected by the Lodge Executive Committee and Lodge members are welcome to submit nominations before the LEC meeting in November.  More information can be found at the national Order of the Arrow website.

The Distinguished Service Award was created in 1940 to honor those who rendered service to the Order beyond the lodge level. The award is presented to those Arrowmen who have rendered distinguished and outstanding service to the Order on a sectional, regional, or national basis. The award is presented every two to three years during the National Order of the Arrow Conference. Since the time the first awards were presented, less than 1,000 Distinguished Service Awards have been awarded.
 
This is a nationally-administered award and is given only by nomination to and action of the national Order of the Arrow committee.  Please email the Lodge Adivser if you wish to nominate a member of the lodge for the DSA.  More information can be found on the national Order of the Arrow website by clicking here.  Nominations must be made using the form created for this purpose, which is found on the national Order of the Arrow website.