Bowie Opens Malcolm 'Skip' Popp Award Nominations

From The City of Bowie: The Malcolm “Skip” Popp Award is offered by the City of Bowie for Scouts and/or Scout leaders who have performed “extraordinary and distinguished community service, within Scout organizations in the City of Bowie.” Nominations must be made through Scouting units, who may nominate Scouts and/or Scout leaders within their groups. Community members are welcome to contact a Scout unit to recommend one of their members for nomination.

Malcolm “Skip” Popp was an active member of the Bowie community for many years and helped to organize a Cub Scout Pack at Buckingham Elementary School. In May of 1971, while on a camping trip with the Scouts, he successfully rescued a boy from the flood-swollen waters, but lost his life in the effort.

In June 1971, the Bowie City Council established an award to memorialize Mr. Popp’s act of heroism. The purpose was to “foster a tradition and spirit for the kind of service to Scouting and love of neighbor that Mr. Popp exemplified in his private and Scouting capacities.” The first medal was awarded to the Popp family in memory of Mr. Popp.

Malcolm “Skip” Popp was placed in the City of Bowie Hall of Honor on May 21, 2000. Julee Fryberger and Christine Connally have been selected to receive the Popp Award for calendar year 2016. During 2016, Ms. Fryberger served as President of her girl-led multi-level Girl Scout Troop 992/2539 of about 40, while simultaneously serving in an adult position as assistant leader of a Daisy-Brownie Troop 2114 in which she was responsible for leading meetings and teaching girls. It was noted that she was more extensively and more formally trained as an adult Girl Scout leader at the age of 18 than virtually any other local adult Girl Scout leader in Bowie.

Christine Connally is Pack 403 Committee Chair and a troop leader with Girl Scout Troop 2713. During 2016, she has innovated with new STEM-based activities and grown the Cub Scout Pack by more than 25%, despite the fact that the wider scouting community in Prince Georges County is facing declining membership. Ms. Connally organized and hosted the first ever Bowie-wide “Powderpuff Derby,” a Girl Scouts pinewood derby event that is the same as the Cub Scouts pinewood derby.

Ms. Fryberger’s and Ms. Connally’s demonstrated leadership in Scouting has made a positive impact on the community and the City. For these reasons and more, they were nominated by their fellow Scouters to receive the award and have been selected by the

Community Outreach Committee as the recipient for calendar year 2016. The award will be presented to Ms. Fryberger and Ms. Connally on Monday, June 5 at 8:00 p.m. during a City Council Meeting. Prior to the meeting at 7:00 p.m., a reception will be held at City Hall in their honor. Scouts and leaders are invited to attend both the reception and the meeting. Attendance at the event can be confirmed by calling 301-809- 3014.

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