Schools
Alpharetta Student Earns Venturing Silver Award
Maria Hagen, a sophomore at Alpharetta High School, was recently awarded the designation, which is the equivalent to the Eagle Scout award.
Maria Hagen and Wren Stiner of Venturing Crew 87, chartered to Roswell Presbyterian Church, have earned the Venturing Silver Award. The Silver Award focuses on leadership, ethics and emergency preparedness.
Venturing is a youth development program of the Boy Scouts of America for young men and women who are 14 years old or are 13 and have completed eighth grade and are under the age of 21.
Venturing’s purpose is to provide positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults.
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Maria Hagen is a sophomore at Alpharetta High School while Wren Stiner is a Junior at Roswell High School.
The Silver Award is equivalent to the Eagle Scout for Boy Scouts, but it is less common. Some 691 Eagle Scouts awards, the highest honor given by the Boy Scouts, were presented by the Atlanta Area Council in 2013. Compared to only 6 Silver Awards last year.
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Hagen and Stiner have both served as president of Crew 87, increasing membership of their crew in that time. Activities the Crew has participated in this year include sailing, snow skiing, canoeing over 150 miles in Canada, repelling into caves at Steven’s Gap, snorkeling with manatees, hiking, shooting, backpacking, archery, mountain biking, zip lining, high ropes course, horseback riding and much more.
Maria has staffed BSA National Youth Leadership Training twice and is going to National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience this summer. Wren has staffed Woodruff Scout Reservation Summer Camp program.
Both teens are going backpacking this summer at Philmont Scout Reservation.
“I was happy to earn this recognition with Wren,” Maria said. “Venturing has really provided us many leadership opportunities.”
Wren added both she and Maria would “like to thank the many adults who have supported us along our journey.”
Wren and Maria’s Court of Honor was held on Nov. 16 at Roswell Presbyterian Church’s historic sanctuary.
Photo: Wren Stiner, left, and Maria Hagen were recently presented with the Venturing Silver Award.
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