The Georgia-Carolina Council, Boy Scouts hosted their annual Council Recognition Banquet on Thursday, March 24, 2022 at their new Nature and Adventure Center in Evans. Numerous awards were presented to local Scout leaders and youth for achievements and volunteerism.  

Of these awards, 2 local Scouts were presented with the Council’s Certificate of Merit for heroic actions. Noah Lindler of North Augusta was the first recipient. Lindler, a graduate of North Augusta High School, last year identified that a classmate was having a seizure. He was able to quickly assess the situation, remained calm, and rendered first aid by using his training from his First Aid Merit Badge and Wilderness First Aid Class. In addition, at a cross country meet in Aiken, Lindler rendered first aid to a runner from another school who collapsed from dehydration and heat exhaustion. Lindler stayed with the runner until medical personnel arrived, at the expense of his own time and placement in the race.  

Brent Fleming of Evans was the second recipient of the Council’s Certificate of Merit. Last year, Fleming and his sister, Katie, were cleaning the flower bed in front of their father’s house. They were with their brother, Joey, who has Down Syndrome and is non-verbal. Their father was inside the house per their request, as they wanted their hard work to be a surprise. A neighbor came by with their dog to visit. Katie stepped inside the house to call their father out to encourage the neighbor to leave, since Joey is afraid of dogs. In doing so, the dog lunged at Joey and frightened him, and Joey ran into the road. Brent noticed a car coming down the road towards Joey, and Brent ran to get his brother out of harm’s way. As Brent pushed Joey away from impact of the car, Brent was struck and sent into the air over the top of the vehicle. Brent sustained significant injuries to his face and body. Brent received the Certificate of Merit for his heroic actions and putting the welfare of others in front of his own.  

Aside from these medals, others awarded include The District Award of Merit presented to Maddison Gruby, Kristy Ghrist, and Catherine Sorrells, the James H. Conley Commissioner’s Award presented to Paul Korinko, the Venturing Leadership Award presented to Mari Gruby, the Sea Scout Leadership Award presented to Hannah Todd, Kevin Eidell, Logan Eidell, and Ruth Carvajal-Dawson, and the Alumnus of the Year award presented to Maury Locke.    

The Silver Beaver Award, presented to Scouters of exceptional character who have provided distinguished service within a council, was presented to Matt Lindler of North Augusta, Richard Gruby of Grovetown, and Robert Bolton, Jr. of Martinez.  

The Georgia-Carolina Council serves more than 1,300 area youth and 600 adult volunteers in 16 local counties, including Richmond, Columbia and Aiken.  

For more information or to coordinate additional media coverage, please contact Rebecca Stiles, Executive Assistant for the Georgia-Carolina Council, at (706) 733-5277 or [email protected].