If you’re the parent, friend, loved one, mentor of a new Eagle Scout, or a community public official offering your support of the BSA, here’s what you need to know about the purpose of this event and what to expect when you attend.

The Purpose of the Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner

The primary purpose of the Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner is to formally recognize Scouts who have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. This event serves as a platform to celebrate the young men and women who have demonstrated exceptional skills, leadership, and commitment to their communities.

However, the event has a practical purpose as well: it is a networking event that offers new Eagle Scouts the opportunity to connect with career role models and discover local job opportunities. 

This is immensely valuable, as Eagle Scouts are typically teenaged young people who are newly eligible to enter the workforce and begin making future education and career plans. Because the dinner is already geared toward honoring their accomplishments, it makes it all the easier for Scouts to converse with community role models and impress potential employers.

This gathering brings together Scouts, their families, Scout leaders, corporate sponsors, community professionals, and other special guests to honor the new Eagle Scouts. The annual Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner is considered Scouting’s greatest moment and aims to be an event that the honoree will remember fondly for years to come.

Key Elements of the Event

The exact proceedings of an Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner will vary from council to council, but in general, they follow a common thread consisting of key traditional elements. To begin with, invitees may include families, mentors, Scout leaders, corporate sponsors, representatives from local colleges and businesses, and more. 

Event Tickets and Proceeds

Naturally, all new Eagle Scouts attend their recognition dinner for free, but families, mentors, Scout leaders, and the like will need to purchase a ticket to participate. Local businesses are also encouraged to participate in corporate sponsorship of the event. Corporate sponsorships and ticket proceeds help to cover the cost of the event, but also support the council hosting it — and its ability to continue serving Scouts, their families, and the community.

Community Professionals and Role Models

Throughout the dinner, new Eagle Scouts are seated with one or more role models and potential career mentors from the community. These pairings align with the academic or career interests of each Scout, and they provide an opportunity for Eagle Scouts to make connections and ask questions about the realities and possibilities associated with careers they may want to pursue. 

College and Job Opportunities

In addition, Eagle Scout Recognition Dinners often also provide Scout honorees the chance to gather more information about colleges and current job openings. This is done through an opportunities fair, similar to a  job fair, college fair, tradeshow, that is incorporated into the overall dinner proceedings. 

All in all, the Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner is an elegant and multifunctional way of both honoring Scouts for reaching the rank of Eagle Scout and giving them opportunities to consider their future and connect with the community members who can help them on their way. If you’re interested in supporting your local Eagle Scouts, get your tickets today!

Attend the Laurel Highlands Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner

If you live in the western parts of Pennsylvania, Maryland, or West Virginia, enrolling your child in the Scouting America Laurel Highlands Council is an excellent way for them to benefit from countless programs and experiences that will mold them into capable, kind, and community-oriented people — and, one day, Eagle Scouts.

Join us as we host the Eagle Scouts Recognition Dinner on November 21, 2023, at the Westin Center in Pittsburgh. You can find ticket information here. Businesses can participate in a corporate sponsorship or set up a tradeshow booth and help us continue our mission to serve youth from all communities, regardless of circumstances.  

Scouting’s programs and outdoor adventures give young people the opportunity to try new things, provide service to others, build self-confidence, and develop leadership skills. The Scouting America Laurel Highlands Council serves youth members and volunteer adult leaders throughout Western Pennsylvania, Western Maryland, and parts of West Virginia. We aim to beneficially involve every eligible child and their family in the fun and adventure of our programs. 

So what are you waiting for? Join now!