The Boy Scouts of America Alumnus of the Year Award is BSA Alumni Association’s highest recognition. This award was established to recognize alumni of the BSA who, over a sustained period, have used the skills and values they learned through their association with scouting to make significant and long-lasting contributions to the scouting alumni movement, to scouting in general and their communities. This is not meant to be another Man of the Year, Good Citizen, or general Philanthropist award. There are three levels of this award – national, territories and council – that may be granted for alumni service.
The Council Alumnus of the Year Award is given for exceptional service to the alumni movement on a council-wide basis. Each council may select one nominee for this award annually. The council must notify the national office of their selection allowing accurate record keeping and current website information. The national office will forward a Certificate to be signed locally for a formal presentation at a public event. Specific requirements are listed on the application form.
The Territories Alumnus of the Year Award is given for remarkable service to the Alumni movement above the Council level. A total of four awards are presented annually. To arrive at 4 awards the NST will be grouped together into four different groupings to select one Territories Alumnus of the Year. These grouping are: Territories 1, 2, 3. Territories 4, 5, 6, 9. Territories 7, 8, 14, 15, 16. Territories 10, 11, 12, 13. Specific requirements are listed on the application form.
The National Alumnus of the Year Award is given for exemplary service to the alumni movement on a national level. One award is presented annually. Requirements can be found on the application form.
Nominations for the Territories and National Alumnus of the Year awards shall be sent to the national BSA Alumni Committee. The national chairman of the BSA Alumni Committee, in consultation with the sub-committee on awards and recognition, shall appoint a selection committee for each award. The selection committee members shall consist of previous awardees of the National Alumnus of the Year Award.
Recognition items are available for each level of the Alumnus of the Year and includes a certificate, a medal, a lapel pin for non-uniform clothing, and an optional knot device for the BSA Alumni Award square knot, if it has previously been earned.
The Council Alumnus of the Year recognition pieces are defined by a blue and bronze medallion, a similar lapel pin, and a bronze acorn knot device. The Territories Alumnus of the Year recognition pieces are defined by an orange and silver medallion, a similar lapel pin, and a silver acorn knot device. The National Alumnus of the Year recognition pieces are defined by a red and gold medallion, a similar lapel pin, and a gold acorn knot device.