EOCS

The Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting (EOCS) is excited to announce the recipients of the 2024 George N. Boulukos EOCS: Joanna Clohessy from Elmhurst, IL; Stephen (Alec) Lawrence from Mooresville, NC; and Jason Pilcher from Pleasant Hill, MO. Each applicant submitted biographical information and shared how they express their love for God and their Orthodox faith in their daily lives.

Joanna Clohessy, a member of Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church in Westchester, IL, demonstrated remarkable leadership by helping to establish a new BSA troop for girls. An accomplished student and pianist, she has been actively involved in her church and completed her Eagle Award by leading a project to renovate a local park. Joanna will soon begin her psychology studies at Indiana University and is the first female Eagle Scout to receive an EOCS scholarship.

Alec Lawrence, from St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church in Mooresville, NC, has excelled academically, captained his football team, and served as president of the National Honor Society. For his Eagle Scout project, he built a chicken coop for Raised Ministries’ educational program. Alec will attend the Honors College at the University of South Carolina, majoring in Anthropology with a Pre-medical focus.

Jason Pilcher, a member of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church (OCA) in Overland Park, KS, is a dedicated student and athlete, recognized by the National Technical Honor Society. He renovated his high school's baseball dugout for his Eagle project and plans to study criminal law at Blue River Metropolitan Community College before transferring to a four-year university.

The George N. Boulukos Scholarship is awarded annually by the EOCS to young men and women who have achieved the highest award in their scouting organization and the Alpha Omega religious award. The $1000 scholarship recognizes recipients for their commitment to God and their Orthodox Christian faith through service, scholarship, leadership, and citizenship. Applications are encouraged from students of all Eastern Orthodox jurisdictions, with submissions open from January 1 to May 1 each year. For more details, visit eocs.org/scholarship.

Established in 1960 by the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in America (SCOBA), the EOCS coordinates the Eastern Orthodox Christian Scouting program in the U.S. and serves as the national representative for various scouting organizations. In addition to scholarships, the EOCS promotes Eastern Orthodox Christian scouting, organizes retreats, and provides religious awards for scouts. For more information or to donate to the scholarship fund, visit www.eocs.org. For scholarship inquiries, contact Dr. Miriam E. Kotsonis at mekotsonis@gmail.com or (908) 672-0001.

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