Congratulations to 2026 Silver Beaver Award recipients:
John Athayde and Adam Sowers
The Silver Beaver Award is the highest recognition a Scout council can bestow. Introduced in 1931, it is awarded for distinguished service within a council by registered adult Scouters of exceptional character and is given to those who deliver the Scouting program and perform community service through hard work, self-sacrifice, dedication, and many years of service. Congratulations to this year’s Virginia Headwaters Council recipients of the Silver Beaver Award: John Athayde and Adam Sowers.
John and Adam will be presented with the Silver Beaver Award at the Council Recognition Dinner on February 21 at Tinkling Springs Presbyterian Church in Fishersville.
John Athayde
It is with great pride that the Virginia Headwaters Council announces the selection of John Athayde as a 2026 recipient of the Silver Beaver Award.
John Athayde is an Eagle Scout whose service to Scouting has continued well into adulthood. He has served as Tiger Den Leader, Lion Den Leader, Assistant Cubmaster and Cubmaster. A Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow, John exemplifies the principles of servant leadership. On the district level, he has served as a Webelos Camp Staff and Cub Scout Day Camp Staff and has been recognized with the District Award of Merit. A member of the Council Executive Board, John serves as Vice President of Technology and Communication where he has led a complete overhaul and redesign of the council website, moving it to a more modern WordPress backend, deployed a shared Google Workspace for council officers, led the transition within the council to BlackPug, and was instrumental in deploying a reliable high-speed internet solution for Camp Shenandoah. As his nomination attests John “has propelled the Virginia Headwaters Council from the Stone Age to the Space Age … his reimagining and implementation of the council’s information technology systems and frameworks have transformed the council into a modern and agile enterprise.”
Adam Sowers
It is with great pride that the Virginia Headwaters Council announces the selection of J. Adam Sowers as a 2026 recipient of the Silver Beaver Award.
Adam Sowers is an Eagle Scout and a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow whose service to Scouting spans the unit, district, and council levels. Over the years, he has served as Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, Cubmaster, Assistant Cubmaster, and Den Leader, demonstrating unwavering dedication to youth leadership and development. At the district level, Adam has contributed as a member of the Monticello District Committee, the Apple Harvest Camporee Committee, and as staff for Cub Scout Fun Day. In recognition of his exceptional service, he has previously been honored with the District Award of Merit. At the council level, Adam has served the Order of the Arrow as an advisor in various capacities and currently serves on the Council Executive Board as Vice President of Finance and Fund Development. In this role, his leadership and creativity have supported vital initiatives such as the Friends of Scouting campaign, including the development of impactful videos and promotional materials that inspire engagement and strengthen community support. Adam’s nomination reads in part: “Adam has been a mentor, advocate, and champion for the next generation of leaders. His passion for Scouting’s mission makes him a deserving recipient of this distinguished honor.”
