Michael Ross and Jose Contreras received President’s Volunteer Service Awards at a recent Boy Scouts of America conference. Anne MacDonald, Associate Director of USA Freedom Corps. presented the awards.
An Eagle Scout who volunteered to return as a Troop Leader in 2000, Ross was placed in the North Oak Cliff area of Dallas, a neighborhood that had been hurting for volunteer leaders for some time. Since volunteering for duty, he has been the founding Scoutmaster of Troop 2012 at the J. Erik Jonsson Community School and has been actively serving in building the District-level activities as well as the regional Camporee program, while participating in the World Jamboree.
An achievement that Ross holds even closer to the heart is the relationship that he’s developed with Troop 2012’s first Eagle Scout, Jose Contreras. Contreras, of course a volunteer in his own right, has overcome significant obstacles to receive his Eagle. While working after school as well as helping to care for a younger sibling, he still found the time to earn his Eagle by organizing a blood drive for Carter Blood Center, working on Hurricane Katrina relief projects through World Vision, and participated in many otherservice projects. At one point when difficulties in maintaining his grueling schedule became overwhelming, Contreras was tempted to give up. Ross intervened. By providing encouragement in his home and assisting his family in locating resources that enabled Contreras to persevere, Ross’ caring influence and Contreras’ tremendous courage will culminate in Contreras graduating from high school in December.
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