Levi Welp receives Rottet Scouting Award

The Edward J. Rottet Jr Memorial Scout Award, established in 1935, was presented on Scout Sunday, Feb 2, 2025, at the Jasper Knights of Columbus.

The local scout award is based on outstanding character and achievement.

More than 80 Scouts and adults attended, including Scout Troops 182 and 185 and Venture Crew 185 as this year’s recipient, Levi Welp, a senior at Jasper High School, was presented the award. Welp is the son of John and Lynn Welp. He plans to study financial planning.

Levi Welp is an Eagle Scout and has earned 31 merit badges. His Troop leadership positions include Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, and Quartermaster. He has earned the Ad Altare Dei religious award. He is a senior at Jasper High School and ranks in the top 12 percent of his class. He was elected to the National Honor Society as a junior. He is a 4-year member of the Student Council in addition to being active with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, SAAD, Key Club, and Octagon Club. Welp has been a member of the Business Professionals of America for 4 years serving as Vice President and advancing to the state competition as a junior. He will have competed on the JHS Golf team for four years, helping the team to the state finals his freshman year. The team also won regional his sophomore and junior years and he has earned medalist honors at meets. He may be one of few golfers with a documented hole-in-one and a documented albatross, three below par. Welp is an active member of Precious Blood Catholic Church and has been a member of St John Bosco Youth Group and attended the recent National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis. He is also active in Young Life and is currently a Wyldlife Leader. As a member of Venture Crew 185, he has enjoyed high-adventure scuba diving and will attend the Philmont Scout Trek in New Mexico this summer. A member of Troop 185, his Scoutmaster is Fred Feltner and Crew Leader is Kevin Cox.

Jason Schmitt served as master of ceremonies during the event. Scouts TJ Block and Jack Campbell led the Pledge of Allegiance, Scout Oath and invocation. Breakfast was prepared by K of C members.

Joe Schitter, an Eagle Scout and adult leader of Troop 185 was the guest speaker. He recounted his scouting days and the satisfaction of currently serving as an adult leader. He shared speaking with Fred Feltner, Scoutmaster of Troop 185 and expounded on the priceless rewards of volunteering. The sons of both leaders have earned the Eagle Scout rank.

Don Rottet, Edward T. Rottet’s cousin, spoke about Eddie Rottet Jr’s life and the award. He spoke of Eddie’s family pedigree and emphasized the late Coach Ed Yarborough being Eddie’s nephew and an instrumental leader of our community.

Eddie Rottet was a Life Scout and star athlete at Jasper who died in 1934 of typhoid fever at the age of 17. He excelled academically, was a leader in extracurricular activities, and excelled in every sport in which he participated. He helped lead Jasper to the final four in the 1934 Indiana high school basketball tournament. When his troop unexpectedly lost its scoutmaster, he responded by assuming the role and expanding activities.

The scouting award was established in 1935 and was awarded every year, except 1958, until 1960. The award was reinstated in 1980 and has been awarded annually since.

The Memorial Scout Award is presented to a local scout based on outstanding character and achievement. The 90-year-old Memorial Trophy and other memorabilia regarding Eddie can be viewed at the Dubois County Museum. The trophy displays small silver statues of a young man playing tennis, baseball and basketball. Don Rottet points out that the statue of a scout adorns the top of the trophy exemplifying Eddie’s character of living the scout law no matter what activity he pursued.

Previous Rottet Award recipients attending included Kurt Hedinger 1982, Dr Steve Hopf 1984, Stan Klein 1986, Doug Aders 1988, Lee Knies 2013, and Blake Knies 2015.