2015 Thunderbird Award Press Release:
On February 28, 2015 Wagion Lodge 6 announced the 122nd and 123rd recipients of the Thunderbird Award. Congratulations to youth recipient Evan Bair and adult recipient Martin Barbie!
A copy of the 2015 Thunderbird Award pamphlet (PDF) can be found HERE.
Brief History of the Award:
The Thunderbird Award is an award that is unique to Wagion Lodge 6. It was founded in 1957 by Dwayne Welling and was presented to the first recipient, K.T. Williamson. The following year it was presented to seven Arrowmen, including Dwayne Welling, as a committee was established for future selection of the award. Since then, the Thunderbird Award has traditionally been presented to one youth and one adult each year and is recognized by the national Order of the Arrow committee.
The Thunderbird Award is primarily an award given by Wagion Lodge 6 to recognize outstanding service rendered in connection with meaningful leadership capacity within Wagion Lodge 6 over an extended period of time.
Recipient Biographies:
Youth Recipient – Evan Bair
Our youth recipient is Evan Bair. Evan entered Cub Scouts in 2001. After receiving the Arrow of Light Award in 2006, he crossed over into Boy Scouts. He progressed through the Scouting ranks, achieving his goal of becoming an Eagle Scout in 2011. After earning his Eagle, he continued his advancement by earning bronze, gold, and silver palms over the next year. As a youth, he served in several leadership positions in his troop, including Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, and Order of the Arrow Troop Representative.
Evan was called out into the Order of the Arrow in 2008 and completed his Ordeal the same year. He sealed his membership in the lodge, completing his Brotherhood in 2009.
In addition to being active in the lodge, Evan attended the National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) and has served on staff for the course. As a member of the Order of the Arrow, he has also attended the National Leadership Seminar (NLS) and the 2009 and 2012 National Order of the Arrow Conferences (NOAC).
In the lodge, Evan served as the NOAC Committee Chairman from 2009 until 2012 and was nationally recognized for his fundraising efforts. After leading a contingent for 49 Arrowmen to NOAC, he became a Vigil Honor member in 2012 and was elected Program Vice Chief (PVC) for the 2013 lodge year. Finally, Evan was elected the 76th Wagion Lodge 6 Chief the following year.
Evan graduated from Hempfield Area High School and received an Outstanding Citizen Award in 2013. He currently attends the University of Pittsburgh where he is majoring in Industrial Engineering.
Congratulations to the 2015 youth and 122nd recipient of the Thunderbird Award, the Immediate Past Lodge Chief, Evan Bair!
Adult Recipient – Martin Barbie
Our adult recipient is Martin Barbie. Martin began his Scouting career as youth, serving his home unit in various leadership positions on his trail to becoming an Eagle Scout.
Martin became a member of the Order of the Arrow and sealed his membership by completing his Brotherhood. After being an active member of the Lodge Executive Committee (LEC) he was elected to serve as Lodge Chief in 1979. He was also recognized for his leadership contributions to his lodge when he was selected to become a Vigil Honor member.
Martin graduated from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 1982 with a B.S. in Business Administration and Management. He began his professional Scouting career the following year and then was selected to serve as the Assistant Scout Executive of the Ozark Trails Council in 1998. In March of 2008, he became the Scout Executive of the Westmoreland-Fayette Council and currently holds this position.
Martin is a member of the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting and an active parishioner of Our Lady of Grace Parish. He was also awarded the St. George Medal for his “outstanding contributions to the spiritual development of Catholic youth.”
Martin hails from Nawakwa Lodge 3, but continues to provide guidance and support to youth leaders as he recently assumed the position of Lodge Staff Adviser of Wagion Lodge 6 in 2014.
Congratulations to the 2015 adult and 123rd recipient of the Thunderbird Award, Martin Barbie!
