Boy Scout Banquet incredibly successful

The Boy Scout Distinguished Citizen Award Banquet was held last night at the Jasper Inn & Convention Center.

The annual event always features great speakers and worthy recipients. A full house of over 300 attendees heard Pat Koch of Holiday World as the Keynote Speaker, and watched Scott Schwinghammer, CEO of Versteel, receive the Distinguished Citizen Award.

This was the 20th year for the banquet and award ceremony and it was done right, with assistance from the Knights of Columbus in full color regalia. The boy scouts were sharp and handled their duties with class. As for Koch, she tailored her message around the same principles upon which the Boy Scouts are founded and received a standing ovation after her speech.

Koch stated she felt like she was speaking to the choir here in Dubois County. “Dubois County is extraordinarily blessed with wonderful people who do what I spoke about – giving service and hospitality, the cleanliness and friendliness,” she said.

After three speakers delivered their response about how Schwinghammer is deserving of the award, he accepted the award flanked on either side by his two grandsons who are now in Cub Scouts themselves.

Schwinghammer was proud and humbled to receive the award. “It (the award) means that there’s still an organization out there that is going to lead our youth with the values they were founded with – that the Boy Scouts were founded with and continue to improve our community.”

Twenty-one recipients of the Distinguished Citizens Award grace the pages of the program that was handed out last night, and judging from the event and the commitment to the Boy Scouts in this area, hopefully there will be many more to come.

Chairperson of the event Eric Schue stated the event was a tremendous success and raised nearly $15,000 to support Boy Scouts in the area. This is Schue’s sixth year chairing the event.