Brian H. Swatt Memorial National Events Scholarship

Brian Henry Swatt was an Eagle Scout from Troop 87, Mayfield PA and a Vigil Honor member of Lowwapaneu Lodge 191. Brian served the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council in many capacities, including as a six summer camp staff member at Goose Pond Scout Reservation. Brian was active in the former Section NE-5B, serving as section secretary from 2015-2016 and vice chief for 2016-2017. Brian’s passion for service was a matter of public record as well: from 2016-2018, he was president of the student government association at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and, in 2017, was appointed by PA Governor Tom Wolf to serve on the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Board of Governor’s. Brian’s Vigil name, Chief who Speaks Eloquently, was a reflection of his selfless legacy of leadership. Before Brian tragically and suddenly passed away in June, 2019, he was a friend and mentor to everyone he encountered, and inspired the next generation of Scouting leaders across his council and the section.

To honor Brian’s legacy of leadership and service, the 2019-20 Section NE-5 Council of Chiefs voted to create the Brian H. Swatt Memorial National Events Scholarship in the hopes of providing monetary support to Arrowmen within the section by awarding a partial or full scholarship to one of the Order of the Arrow’s national events, including the National Order of the Arrow Conference. 

It is the purpose of the section to provide for the Arrowmen of E17 in hopes to enhance their Order of the Arrow experience through participation in one of these events. All events are the epitome of what the OA represents: the ideals of brotherhood, cheerfulness and service. Thus, it is imperative that Section E17 and its leadership support these events and offer financial assistance to the Arrowmen of the Unami, Ajapeu, Lenape, Lenapehoking IX, Woapalanne, Witauchsoman, Na Tsi Hi, Lowwapaneu, Japeechen, Black Eagle and Yokahu Lodges to help pay for the event costs.

The Brian H. Swatt Memorial National Events Scholarship is reserved for those individuals who exhibit interest in the Order and a commitment to service, as well as a future commitment to the Order of the Arrow in their home lodges. It is expected that the recipients continue their service in the OA, as well as bring the enthusiasm gained from these events back to their home units, councils, chapters and lodges. Each recipient will be required at the end of their experience to provide the section with an account of their experiences to be posted on the section website and in section newsletters for recognition and promotion for the events and the scholarship.

The amount awarded to recipients will be a maximum of $550. This amount may be increased from year to year depending on the cost of the event attended and the need of the applicant. The Section Selection Committee will select the recipients each year.

Applications for the Brian H. Swatt Memorial National Events Scholarship can be found below, and must be submitted NO LATER THAN MARCH 31st, annually. The scholarship money will be sent from the section’s host council in the form of a reimbursement check after they have attended the program unless set up otherwise in conjunction with the Section Key Leadership.