It was the largest turnout yet for the annual Good Scout Award Dinner, co-hosted this year by Mayor Ellen Dickson and Summit Police Captain John Dougherty. The event was held at the Grand Summit Hotel.  Close to 200 people listened to the four honorees accepting their awards, including Philip Angelo, owner of La Pastaria Restaurant, Kevin Cummings, President and CEO of Investors Bank, Susan Hairston, Director of Grants Management at The Ford Foundation, and Keith Halper, Scout Master.

            The uniformed scouts of Troop 67 opened the ceremony with the Color Guard reciting “On my honor, I will do my best to do duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law. . .”  Rev. Peter Koziolkiewicz from St. Teresa of Avila led the invocation before dinner. 

Mayor Ellen Dickson said she was thankful for all the important work the scouts have done for the city of Summit.  “We have landmark trees that are deed restricted and the scouts did a study on how many of these landmark trees still exist.“ They also cleaned up Summit’s parks and open spaces during Earth Day Clean Up and painted at the Red Cross.

 “This is one of the best attendances of this event in many years,” said John Dougherty.  "It is a testament to the recipients of the awards who have distinguished themselves as role models and good citizens.” 

Past award recipient, Brian Kaufman, added “You’ve got four exceptional citizens of Summit who have dedicated themselves in this community and it’s really fitting that the boy scouts take the time and effort to honor people who are giving of themselves.”

“I just am so excited and humbled that I was selected for something that I love doing,” said honoree Susan Hairston. “Scouting is such a great program for boys and girls.  It is something we should carry through life. Thank you for the enormous responsibility to uphold the tenets of the boy scouts.”

“I’ve been living in Summit for over 30 years,” said Honoree Kevin Cummings.  “It’s nice to be recognized by your friends and peers in your own town.”

Honoree Philip Angelo said, “I’m honored and humbled to receive this award.  I enjoy working with the kids whether its sports or boy scouts. I like being a mentor to the kids and I do what I can for them.”

Andrew Kaufman, member of Troup 67, told the crowd that scouting has “become a meaningful part of who I am. The Good Scout award is awarded to those who exemplify ideals of scouts in their daily lives” and live up to the Boy Scout motto: “do a good turn daily.”