Janis Curit

Janis Curit from Junction City, Kansas has been awarded the $4,000 Emmett J. Doerr Memorial Scout Scholarship. Curit belongs to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in the Diocese of Salina and is a member of Scouting America Troop 41 in the Coronado Area Council.

When asked why volunteering is important to him, Curit responded, “As a Catholic Scout, I volunteer as a way to live out both the Catholic faith, and the Scout Oath. Specifically, that of helping others at all times, and fulfilling the ideal of showing one’s faith through action… the knowledge that others are better through my involvement is worth the many hours that could have been spent doing something else.”

In service to the Catholic Church, Curit volunteered at St. Francis Xavier Parish as an altar server. He also participated in the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) and the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. Curit earned all four of the Catholic Religious Emblems offered by Catholic Scouting America, including the Light of Christ, Parvuli Dei, Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII.

Curit served the community through extensive engagement with several organizations. This included assisting with Wreaths Across America, supporting the Geary County Food Pantry and volunteering at the Brookdale Senior Center. Additionally, Curit contributed to the Junction City Police Department and performed conservation work for the City of Junction City Parks and Recreation. His commitment to service is further highlighted by earning both the Bronze, Silver and Gold Congressional Award Medals and Certificates.

At St. Francis Xavier High School, Curit is a member of the National Honor Society. His leadership and service extended across multiple activities, including serving as president for the following organizations; Student Council, Future Business Leaders, Scholars Bowl and Junior Optimist Club. Curit also dedicated over 1,400 hours to the school’s newspaper and yearbook staff and attended Boys State. He was a two-sport varsity athlete, in rugby and basketball and participated in baseball and track.

In Scouting, Curit held numerous leadership positions in the troop, including junior assistant Scoutmaster and senior patrol leader. He earned multiple prestigious awards, including the Silver Supernova Medal and the Distinguished Conservation Award. For his Eagle Scout Project, Curit led a team of volunteers to restore the Kaw River Nature Trail at Fort Riley. The project involved clearing a mile of dense brush, redirecting a section of the trail lost to erosion, and constructing a new concrete and wood viewing platform, successfully reopening the trail for the community.

This year, Catholic Scouting America awarded fifteen service scholarships totaling $40,000 to recognize Catholic Scouts nationwide for outstanding service and leadership in four areas: the Catholic Church, their community, school and Scouting. Since 2005, Catholic Scouting America (NCCS) has awarded a total of $348,000 in scholarships to 146 Scouts nationwide.