The National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) Outstanding Eagle Scout Award (NOESA) was established during the BSA’s 100th Anniversary in 2010 with the first recipient to receive the award a year later. The award was created to recognize notable Eagle Scouts who had either performed distinguished service at the local, state, or regional level or who were known nationally, but had not yet met the 25-year tenure as an Eagle for the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. Often, worthy candidates for the NOESA have inspired others through their actions and have devoted a lifetime to their profession, avocation, community, and beliefs, at great sacrifice to themselves and their families.

The NOESA has gained prominent standing among Scouting recognitions. Previous recipients include famous authors, explorers, television personalities, military flag officers, scientists, government officials, and prominent businessmen.

The selection of recipients is made by the local council NESA committee (which may utilize a NESA awards sub-committee), Scout executive, and council president. Each recipient’s actions and accomplishments should elevate the stature of Eagle Scouts in the public eye. Therefore, not all nominations are acted upon, and a substantial percentage of nominations are declined.

Nomination forms should be emailed to:  nesa@mayflowerbsa.org or mail to:

Mayflower Council, BSA, 83 Cedar Street, Milford, MA  01757

Nominations are due annually by December 1.

The National Eagle Scout Association established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams national Eagle Scout service project of the year award (ESSPY) to recognize valuable service of an exceptional nature by an Eagle Scout candidate to a religious institution, a school, community or other entity through completion of an Eagle Scout project.

Examples of projects that have been selected for the ESSPY include projects that have benefited underprivileged children, recognized veterans, been international in nature, and have required significant time and resources.

The selection of recipients begins at the local level and is conducted through the council NESA committee (which may utilize a NESA awards sub-committee). The council NESA committee selects a recipient for their respective council from the list of submitted nominations and then forwards a worthy candidate to the National Eagle Scout Association for regional consideration.

Mayflower Council NESA committee will present a $250.00 scholarship.  The winner will then be placed in the regional level.

Please submit the form below to NESA@Mayflowerbsa.org for consideration.

Regional ESSPY recipients are selected by each council’s regional NESA scholarship committee. Regional recipients will receive $500, to be available for their future educational purposes or to attend a national or international Scouting event or facility. (Local council will also receive a $500 award.)

The recipient of the national award is then selected among regional recipients by a special selection committee of the National Eagle Scout Association. National recipients will receive $2,500, to be available for their future educational purposes or to attend a national or international Scouting event or facility. (Local council will also receive a $2,500 award.)

All nominations are due annually by January 31.

Eric H. of Troop 28 Cohasset Earns Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award

Eagle Scout created “first responder sensory kits” to help first responders 

Wrentham, Mass. — The National Eagle Scout Association established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award to recognize valuable service of an exceptional nature by a Scout to a religious institution, a school, community, or other entity. 

The award recognizes a Scout for their Eagle Scout leadership service project, which is part of the requirements for earning the Eagle Scout Award. Each year, local councils select a council-level winner, and each region selects a region-level winner from that pool. A national winner is then chosen from the four regional finalists.

On June 13, 2022, The Mayflower Council, BSA proudly presented the 2021 Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Award of the Year to:

Eric H.
Troop 28 Cohasset
Sensory Kits for First Responders

Eric’s project raised awareness of autism while providing first responders with the resources and tools they need when they assist people with special needs. His project included: providing 80 sensory kits to multiple towns in the surrounding South Shore towns of Cohasset, Hanover,

Hingham, Hull, Norwell, Scituate.

Eric saw this need for sensory kits after experiences with his older brother, who has autism, where first responders were not equipped to respond to his brother’s needs. To address this need, Eric spoke with a family friend who was a former EMT and Eric’s brother’s teacher at the Amego School in Franklin, Mass., to form his idea of creating a “first responder sensory kit” go bag. 

The kits contain items to help first responders communicate with the person in need as well as bring them comfort.

Following the presentation of the Adams Award, Eric also received a citation and a medallion from Brigadier General (Ret.) Emery Maddocks of the Military Order of the World Wars.

“We have a really outstanding project to recognize,” said Gen. Maddocks of Eric’s Sensory Kits. “For dedication to the principles of the Boy Scouts of America as evidenced by not only by his achievement of the highest achievement in Scouting – the Boy Scout Eagle Award –but further by [earning] the 2021 Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award.”

What is Eagle Giving Month?

Eagle Giving is an online fundraising throughout the month leading up to the 2022 Eagle Recognition Dinner. For one month, the Eagle Scout Alumni community will come together in support of Scouting and future Eagle Scouts.

Together we are helping the Mayflower Council enrich, enhance, and elevate the lives of youth in Scouting.

Why have a Giving Month?

A Month of giving is more than just raising money online — it’s a tool to engage alumni, and Scout families by generating awareness and building a culture of philanthropy at Mayflower Council. It is an incredible opportunity to tell our story, inspire our audience, and acquire new donors, all in support of Scouting. This year, we are challenging 300 Eagle Scouts to Give Their Eagle Pride A Purpose.

How can I be a part of it?

From Wednesday, May 11, 2022 starting at 5:45am – Monday, June 13, 2022 at 5:45pm we need YOU to show Give Your Eagle Pride A Purpose!

• Show your pride! Between 5:45 am Wed 5/11 – 5:45 pm Mon. 6/13:

1. 1. Make an online gift: Eagle Gives
   2. Help us gain momentum and reach more people. Encourage your networks to follow your lead by letting them know you just made a gift and why Scouting is important to you.
   3. “Like” the Mayflower social networks & Join the Alumni page
   4. Post to Instagram or Facebook stories with a short video of why it is important to support Scouting. Get personal. Tell your Scouting story to inspire others to make a gift. Repost, share, and like #SupportingFutureEagles #GiveYourEagleAPurpose social media posts throughout the day.

• Share your pride! “Like” and “Share” the posts on our social networks (Facebook, Instagram & Twitter) & Share your Scouting Story using the hashtag #GiveYourEaglePrideAPurpose.

• Become a Fundraiser! Create your own custom fundraising page through Facebook or GoFundMe. Add photos, text and videos on why it’s important to you to help support Future Eagles. Then tag your fellow Eagle pals and share away. It’s quick and easy, and you could win some terrific Scouting swag! For help creating your page, contact Mariama Sano

Hashtags: #EagleGives, #GiveYourEagleAPurpose, #SupportingFutureEagles
Donation Link: Eagle Gives

Mayflower Social Networks:

• Facebook:  MayflowerBSA
• Twitter:  @mayflowerbsa
• Instagram: @Mayflowerbsa

Mayflower Alumni Social Networks:

• Facebook Mayflower Council Eagle Nest

Scouting is a family. We rely on our strong network of alumni and friends to keep Scouting going. Thanks to our generous alumni, Scouting continues to Thrive.

Join us by making your gift, challenging your Eagle pals, and sharing on social media! Together we are Supporting Future Eagles and helping to keep Scouting alive.

Our council has begun transitioning to a new online event registration platform named Black Pug, which is used by almost half of all Boy Scout councils nationwide. The previous system, Doubleknot, was a major step forward when we adopted it nearly 16 years ago. After careful, thoughtful and detailed evaluation we believe the Black Pug platform will be an improvement, addressing multiple issues brought up by our members and volunteers and improving your experience when signing up for camps and other activities and accessing the council calendar.

The transition to Black Pug has already begun. Many of our recent events and summer camp sign-ups have been utilizing the new platform. Black Pug will soon become the new platform for the council calendar providing many of the most requested features including calendar subscription links and RSS feeds. We anticipate the full integration of Black Pug into the council website to be completed by June 1.

Individuals and units will have until July 31 to archive any data on the Doubleknot system they wish to retain and we will be sunsetting Doubleknot in Mayflower Council in early August. 

We are excited to be sharing this new event registration system with you and we thank you for your patience as we make this transition. We look forward to serving you better. If you have any questions or need assistance with Black Pug please contact Lisa Olson our Black Pug subject matter expert.

You must be a current member of NESA to apply for the following scholarships.

There are three types of Eagle Scholarships:

• Academic
  • Academic scholarships weigh academic performance, school and Scouting participation, and financial need.
  • Academic scholarships include a range of scholarships, up to four $25,000 scholarships (payable at $6,250 per year for four years) one $48,000 scholarship (payable at up to $12,000 per year for four years) and a $50,000 STEM scholarship for an Eagle Scout planning to major in a science, technology, engineering, or math field.
• Merit
  • Hall/McElwain scholarships
    Awarded based on school and Scouting participation as well as community service.
    $5,000 – 40 minimum awarded annually
  • Robert and Rebecca Palmer scholarship
    Awarded based on school and Scouting participation as well as community service.
    $2,500 – Three awarded annually
  • Bailey scholarship
    Awarded based on school and Scouting participation as well as community service.
    $2,000 – One awarded annually
    $4,000 – One awarded annually
  • Michael S. Malone/Windrush Publishing scholarship
    Awarded based on desire to pursue studies in journalism.
    $2,500 – One awarded annually
• Field Study
  • Since the program’s launch in 2012, over fifty Eagle Scouts have earned the distinction to be considered a NESA World Explorer. These young men have assisted researchers in destinations including the Galápagos Islands, Mammoth Cave, Amazon rainforest and South Africa.

The scholarship window for all scholarships is August 1st through October 31st.  Eagle Scouts who want to apply must do so by midnight in their time zone by October 31.

Learn More and Apply