Michael Brierton Awarded $4,000 National Scholarship
Michael Brierton from Junction City, WI has been awarded a $4,000 scholarship by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting®. He is a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in the Diocese of Lacrosse. This year nine service scholarships totaling $25,000 were awarded nationwide to recognize scouts for outstanding service and leadership in four areas: Church, Community, School and Scouting.
Brierton truly embodies the idea of servant leadership. When asked why volunteering is important to him, he responded, “I believe giving back to the community is important and I want to make a difference to others in my lifetime…If I can help in a small way it could have a huge impact in peoples’ lives and to our environment.” Brierton has earned two of the religious emblems offered by the NCCS and is an altar server, a member of the choir and a Youth Group Leader. He volunteers to assist with youth activities, the annual Pancake Fundraiser, the Christmas program and as a parish office assistant.
Brierton is passionate about community service. He has volunteered countless hours in his community to receive the 2022 US Congressional Award for Youth which recognizes initiative, service and achievement in young people. He is also the VFW Post 8733, 2022 Scout of the Year and has volunteered with the Wisconsin Honor Flight, the American Legion, Catholic Charities, Adopt a Highway, River Cleanup, March of Dimes, Humane Society, The Neighbor’s Place local food bank and Wausau Warming Shelters.
At DC Everest-Idea School, Brierton has served as Regional Vice President, Chapter President and VP of Future Business Leaders of America. He is also a member of National Honor Society, school store manager for DECA, Team Captain of the Finance Bowl, VP of the History Bowl and president of the forensic accounting challenge. In sports, Brierton is a member of both JV track and football and varsity curling.
Not only is Brierton an Eagle Scout but he is also a founding member of a Sea Scout Troop. He has earned every BSA merit badge plus 23 Eagle palms and served numerous leadership positions including Troop Guide, Scribe, Chaplain, Webmaster, Assistant Patrol Leader and Patrol Leader. He attended National Youth Leadership Training and as staff. A member of the Order of the Arrow (OA), BSA’s Honor Society, Brierton has served on OA event staff and as an Officer for his Chapter, Lodge and Section and received the OA Vigil Honor and Arrowmen Service Award. Brierton has been a crew leader at Florida Sea Base, served on Council camp staff as a BSA Lifeguard and in Sea Scouts was elected as Boatswain and attended Introduction to Leadership Skill for Ship (ILSS). For his Eagle Scout Project, Brierton refurbished a fifty-year-old, 120-foot-long bridge on a local recreational trail. To improve safety, he also added road crossing signage throughout the trail system.
To be eligible to apply for the National Catholic Committee on Scouting® Scholarships, the Scout must be Catholic, earned the Ad Altare Dei and/ or Pope Pius XII Awards, and received either the Eagle Scout, Summit or Quartermaster Award. A complete list of award recipients, eligibility requirements and applications can be found at http://nccs-bsa.org/index.php/college-scholarship. NCCS Scholarship recipients have been chosen because they are committed to making a difference for good in the world through service and leadership. These young people, like Michael Brierton, are certain to enrich our future.