Medfield Troop 89 Scout, Lybrand, To Receive Highest Volunteer Award

Medfield Troop 89 Scout Recognized with Congress’s Highest Volunteer Award - by Doug Page

Summer brings heat and humidity to Washington DC and on June 20 of 2023 the swampy weather will welcome a member of Medfield’s Troop 89 to receive Congress’s top award for youth volunteers, the Gold Medal for the Congressional Award.

Scouting, via Troop 89, has been at the core of Everett Lybrand’s earning the prestigious recognition. Mr. Nicholas Ianone, Troop 89 Eagle Court of Honor Chair, served as his advisor, and Mr. Jim Hatch, Troop 89 Scoutmaster, and Mr. Karl Kemp, Troop 89 Committee Chair, both served as validators.

Participants in the program set goals across four areas - public service, personal development, physical fitness, and exploration. For the most recent year, over 50,000 students across the US enrolled in the program, with only 5,000 being recognized for any award, and only 517 receiving the Gold Medal. Nearly 2,000 of those 50,000 came from New England. Last year 1 Gold Medal was given out in New Hampshire and 8 for Massachusetts - just 19 in total across the six New England states.

Gold Medalists complete 400 hours of community service, 200 hours of personal development, 200 hours of physical fitness, and a minimum of a five-day, four-night expedition or over two years. Troop 89’s trip to Seabase sailing the Florida Keys in the summer of 2021 was the subject of Everett’s write-up for the expedition. Young people may register when they turn 13 1/2 years old and must complete their activities by their 24th birthday; Everett is currently an 11th grader at New Hampton School and lives with his family in Meredith, New Hampshire.

Scouts BSA has been a partner program of the Congressional Award since 1999. “I was able to count many of my activities for the Eagle Scout rank towards the requirements of the Congressional Award. I’m very grateful to Fin, Fur and Feather for supporting my Eagle Project and the Mayflower Council for all they’ve done to support scouting,” said Lybrand.

The Congressional Award asks participants to create, set, and achieve goals - in addition to volunteer work and scouting pursuits, Everett worked towards goals in drone flying, marksmanship, music, and snow sports.

“Everett is a Scout’s Scout,” wrote Scoutmaster Hatch in his commendation for the Eagle Badge, which was completed in May of 2022, continuing to say, “and his work with Fin, Fur and Feather was extremely important in helping Troop 89 find a way to meet and stay active in difficult times.”

The Congressional Award is one of many ways Everett’s commitment to service has been recognized; he has twice received the New Hampton School award for, “100 Hours of Service” - the school’s top award for community service. Mr. Anthony Mure of New Hampton School was also one of Everett’s Congressional Validators, “Everett comes in and gets the work done. Everett is a shining example of hard work, discipline, and focus. His ability to work independently and follow directions is second to none. He is a natural born leader.”

Pursuing the award is a family affair, Everett’s mother, Wendy White Lybrand, was recognized for the Bronze Medal out of Culpeper, Virginia as a high school senior in 1994. “Service is important to our family, the award is a great program, and Troop 89 is a wonderful way for young people to learn about helping others,” said Mrs. Lybrand. Everett’s sister, Lillian Lybrand, Inter-Lakes class of 2026, is currently pursuing a medal.

When asked about next steps, Lybrand responded, “I’ll get a degree in engineering. A few of us from Troop 89 have applied for the Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) through the Navy, but it would also be great to work another summer at the Town Docks and enjoy the lake.”

Lybrand is one of the 14 members of Troop 89 who will hike the New Mexico back country at Philmont Scout Ranch in June of 2023, and he will attend the Troop’s annual week at Camp Squanto near Plymouth, MA.