College Scholarships

$5000, $4000, $3000, plus four additional $2500 scholarships

In 2005, the National Catholic Committee on Scouting and the Doerr Family established the Emmett J. Doerr Memorial Scout Scholarship Program with three scholarships. Additional scholarships were established in 2008, 2016 and 2019. These service scholarships honor Mr. Emmett J. Doerr who was a dedicated Catholic Scouter. He was an active member of the NCCS, the International Catholic Committee on Scouting and served on the BSA National Camping Committee. Mr. Doerr, whose four sons, three of his grandsons and a granddaughter are Eagle Scouts, was also a major supporter of the Milwaukee County Council, now Three Harbors Council. They honored him with the Milwaukee County Council Flight of Eagles, the MCC Good Scout Award and named Camp Doerr, located in Indian Mound Scout Reservation, in his honor. He was the first recipient of both the NCCS Brother Barnabas Founders Award and the Spes Mundi Award. In addition, he was awarded the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope and St. George medals. The Doerr family and Catholic Scouting America are continuing his legacy by offering these Doerr Scholarships in his name to seven distinguished Catholic Scouts.

$4,000 Scholarship

The Francis “Frank” Parater $4,000 Scholarship was established in 2022 to honor Frank Parater, Servant of God and Eagle Scout (1897-1920). Born in Richmond, VA, Parater was educated at the Xaverian Brother’s School (currently St. Patrick’s School) and at Benedictine High School in Richmond. He graduated in 1917, top in his class and valedictorian. Parater became active in the Boy Scouts of America in his late teens. He was a member of Troop 40, part of what was then the Richmond Council and is now the Heart of Virginia Council. He took on multiple leadership roles with the troop, built a reputation as a Scout with strong ideals and sound judgment and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. Discerning a call to the priesthood, he entered the seminary in 1917. During his studies in Rome, he died of rheumatic fever in 1920 at the age of 22. Because of his exceptional life of virtue, a cause for his canonization was opened in 2001. A $4,000 scholarship funded through the NCCS Scholarship Endowment has been established in his memory.

$3500 Scholarship

The Fortin Education for Service $3,500 Scholarship was established in 2026 by Herve Derek Fortin. Its name reflects a guiding principle that has shaped Mr. Fortin’s life and career. Upon graduating from college, he received a pocket watch from his parents engraved with the words “Education for Service.” The gift served as a lifelong reminder that education carries with it a responsibility to serve others and strengthen one’s community. Mr. Fortin exemplified this principle throughout his 42-year career as a Professional Scouter with the Boy Scouts of America, serving local councils across the United States and around the world. Now residing in the Texas Hill Country, he remains active in his community and continues to champion the values that guided his life and career. Reflecting on the impact of Scouting, he often says, “At home, at work and at play, Scouting’s lessons last a lifetime.” Through the Fortin Education for Service Scholarship, Mr. Fortin hopes to inspire future generations to use their education, talents, and faith in service to others, carrying forward the legacy embodied in the words that have guided his life: Education for Service.

$2,000 NCCS Scholarship

Through a generous contribution from Bill and Kay Davies, a $2,000 NCCS Scholarship was established in 2022. Scouting has been part of the Davies family for many years; their two sons and grandson are all Eagle Scouts. The Davies have been members of the NCCS since the early 1990s. Kay has served many years as the Advisor of the Conference Committee and is a recipient of the Silver St. George Award. Bill served as the NCCS National Chair for three years, Finance vice-chair for six years, and is an Executive Board member. In addition to activity on the NCCS, Bill chaired the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Catholic Committee. He is a recipient of the Brother Barnabus Founders Award, Silver St. George Award, and recently received the BSA National Duty to God Award. Because of their strong belief in Catholic Scouting, Bill and Kay have funded a $2,000 annual scholarship.

Two $2,000 Scholarships

Through the generosity of Tony and Patrice Steenkolk, a family scholarship was established in 2023, with a second added in 2024. Their four sons all attained Eagle Rank, received the Vigil Honor in Order of the Arrow and earned Roman Catholic Religious Emblems. The couple’s two great passions in Scouting are promoting Duty to God and teaching leadership. They have both staffed Wood Badge and NYLT multiple times and have been awarded the Bronze Pelican, St. George, and NCCS Christus Vivit. Tony has also been awarded the St. Brendan the Navigator, Jerusalem Cross, Silver Beaver, NEIC Council Duty to God, numerous distinguished commissioner service awards and received the Vigil Honor in Order of the Arrow. He currently serves as council commissioner for NEIC and is a member of the Catholic Committee on Scouting for the Archdiocese of Chicago. Patrice currently serves as chair of the NCCS Scholarship Committee. Together, they are grateful for the opportunity to help ease the financial burden of college for others.

$2,000 Scholarship

The Bishop Gerald “+Padre” Gettelfinger $2,000 Scholarship was established in 2024 by an anonymous donor. Gettelfinger, an ardent supporter of Scouting was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in 1961 and was named Bishop of Evansville, Indiana in 1989. In 1998, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) appointed him as bishop liaison to NCCS. Gettelfinger served in the position until his retirement in 2011. He remains Bishop Emeritus in the Diocese of Evansville. When serving as liaison, Bishop Gettelfinger traveled to Philmont each year to participate in Scouting in the Catholic Church and serve as a chaplain. In 1998, at age 63, he made his first of five St. George Treks at Philmont. He also served as chaplain at the 2001 National Scout Jamboree. Bishop Gettelfinger is the recipient of the Silver Beaver, the Silver Antelope and the Silver Buffalo Awards from Scouting America. Due to the length of his name, he says, “I squished my name and title” to: +Padre. The “+” simply indicates that I am a Roman Catholic Bishop.” Bishop Gettelfinger affirms, “Scouting has tremendous potential for developing Christian leaders from among Catholic youth. It provides a powerful complement to the Church’s ministry.”

$2000 Scholarship

Through a generous contribution from Brian and Kristine Girskis, a $2,000 NCCS Scholarship was established in 2024. Scouting has been part of the Girskis family for many years; their children Jack, Kate, Paige and Annie are all very active in the program. The Girskis family has been members of the NCCS since 2019. Brian currently serves with the Diocese of Davenport Catholic Committee on Scouting. Brian has also volunteered with the Illowa Council as the district religious emblems coordinator, unit commissioner, assistant scoutmaster, assistant cubmaster and is a former board member. Kristine Girskis is most known for her role as a cubmaster and den leader at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School. When Girskis’ are not at Camp Loud Thunder, you will find them in the North Woods of Wisconsin. It is because of their love for Catholic Scouting, Brian and Kristine have funded a $2,000 scholarship.

$2000 Scholarship

The Savage Family Scholarship was established in 2025 by John and Midge Savage, longtime members of the NCCS. John has served as Chair of the Religious Emblems Committee, while Midge has contributed to the Training and Scholarship Committees.  Scouting has been a central part of the Savage family for more than a century. John’s dad was among the early Eagle Scouts in Detroit, receiving his Eagle Badge from Lord Baden-Powell. Their son, Jay, is also an Eagle Scout. Both John and Midge have held leadership roles within the Michigan Crossroads Council; John serving as district commissioner, council vice-president and Central Region advancement chair and Midge serving as a commissioner and vice-chair of the National Special Needs and Disabilities Committee. The couple has been active in the Archdiocese of Detroit Catholic Committee on Scouting, with Midge serving as chair for many years. Both have received the Silver Beaver, St. George and Christus Vivit Awards. John has received the Silver Antelope, Silver St. George and the Vigil Honor in Order of the Arrow. Midge has received the Torch of Gold and Woods Services Award. Both John and Midge are retired education administrators whose love of learning led them to establish this scholarship. 

$2,000 Scholarship

The $2000 St. Katharine Drexel Continuing Education Scholarship was established for previous NCCS Scholarship recipients in 2025 by LCDR Laura Ray, Deb Sitz, Connie Kantor, Theresa Dirig, Kathy Polowski and Susan Barriball to honor St. Katharine Drexel, SBS (1858-1955). She is the second American-born saint to be canonized by the Catholic Church. This amazing woman was an heiress who became a religious sister and a brilliant educator. She used her family finances to assist those in need. In 1891, she founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, a religious congregation serving Black and Indigenous Americans of the United States. She led her order in the founding and maintenance of almost 60 schools and missions, located primarily in the American West and Southwest. Among the prominent achievements of Drexel and her order is New Orleans’ Xavier University, the only historically black Catholic college in the US. She died on March 3, 1955, and was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 1, 2000. This $2,000 continuing education scholarship has been established to honor her.