Service to Church. Community. School. Scouting.
The National Catholic Committee on Scouting awards ten scholarships totaling $27,000. Originally established as the Emmett J. Doerr Memorial Scout Scholarship, the program is now known as the NCCS Scholarship Program. Applicants complete one application to be considered for any of the scholarship awards. NCCS Scholarships are awarded to service-oriented high school seniors who are Catholic Scouts in a BSA Program and continuing their education in college. The requirements are listed in the Eligibility Requirements section of this page.
Since 2005, NCCS has awarded a total of $245,000 in scholarships to 108 service-oriented Scouts nationwide.
How to Apply
New this year - Apply online!
The new 2024 NCCS Scholarship online application is now available: 2024 NCCS Scholarship Application
Applications must be submitted online. The application will also require the following:
- You must provide your email along with a parent's or guardian's email to save or submit the application. This will allow you and your parent/guardian to review your application and save a copy. When submitted no further changes will be allowed.
- The online application form will require four (4) digitally signed letters of recommendation. One letter from each of the following: Religious institution, Community, School and Scouting Unit. You will be prompted in each category for the name and email of the individual providing the letter. Once your application is submitted, these individuals will receive notification of your request.
- Uploading your high school transcript.
- Uploading a recent high resolution digital photo (headshot) of yourself in BSA uniform.
If you have questions:
Please e-mail nccs@scouting.org or call Elizabeth Olivas at 214-714-6950 (direct line) or 972-580-2114 (message).
Publicity Waiver: You may download the NCCS Publicity Waiver here.
Deadline:
Applicants: Online applications must be submitted by midnight March 1st to be eligible.
Letters of recommendation: Must be submitted by midnight March 15th to be valid.
Eligibility Requirements (All Scholarships)
- Be a practicing Catholic
- Be a full-time high school senior
- Be a registered young man or woman actively involved with a Scout Troop, Venturing Crew, or Sea Scout Ship
- Earned the Eagle Scout, Summit Award, or Quartermaster Award
- Earned the Ad Altare Dei, Pope Pius XII, or Light is Life (Eastern Rite) Religious Emblem
- Provided service and leadership to your Church, community, school and Scouting
Details
- Applications are reviewed by the NCCS Scholarship Committee.
- Submitting a scholarship application is not a guarantee that a scholarship will be granted. There is no appeal, and the decision of the Scholarship Committee is final.
- Applications become the property of the Scholarship Committee. Submitted applications and supporting material will not be returned.
- Only complete applications are reviewed by the NCCS Scholarship Committee. Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.
- NCCS is not responsible for lost or misdirected scholarship applications.
- The ten (10) scholarship recipients will be selected no later than May 15th.
- Names of the winners will be listed on the NCCS website by June 1st.
- All decisions of the Scholarship Committee are final.
- The scholarship is intended to be used for the year awarded but may be deferred for up to two years if approved by the Scholarship Committee.
- Disbursement from the scholarship fund will be made directly to an accredited institution of higher learning at the beginning of the enrollment period.
- The scholarship may be used to defray necessary costs of the awardee's tuition, room or board, books, and/or fees.
About the NCCS Scholarships
The Emmett J. Doerr Memorial Scout Scholarships
Seven separate scholarships are awarded.
1st place - $5000, 2nd place - $4000, 3rd place - $3000 plus four additional - $2000 scholarships
In 2005, the National Catholic Committee on Scouting® and the Doerr Family established the Emmett J. Doerr Memorial Scout Scholarship Program. These service scholarships honor Mr. Emmett J. Doerr who was a dedicated Catholic Scouter. He was an active member of the NCCS, the International Catholic Committee on Scouting and served on the BSA National Camping Committee. Mr. Doerr, whose four sons and three of his grandsons are Eagle Scouts, was also a major supporter of the Milwaukee County Council, now Three Harbors Council. They honored him with the Milwaukee County Council Flight of Eagles, the MCC Good Scout Award and named Camp Doerr, located in Indian Mound Scout Reservation, in his honor. He was the first recipient of both the NCCS Brother Barnabas Founders Award and the Spes Mundi Award. In addition, he was awarded the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope and St. George medals. The Doerr family and the NCCS are continuing his legacy by offering these Doerr Scholarships in his name to seven (7) distinguished Catholic Scouts.
The Frank Parater Scholarship
$3,000 Scholarship
The Francis "Frank" Parater $3,000 Scholarship has been established to honor Frank Parater, Servant of God and Eagle Scout (1897-1920). Born in Richmond, VA, Parater was educated at the Xaverian Brother’s School (currently St. Patrick’s School) and at Benedictine High School in Richmond. He graduated in 1917, top in his class and valedictorian. Parater became active in the Boy Scouts of America in his late teens. He was a member of Troop 40, part of what was then the Richmond Council and is now the Heart of Virginia Council. He took on multiple leadership roles with the troop, built a reputation as a Scout with strong ideals and sound judgment and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. Discerning a call to the priesthood, he entered the seminary in 1917. During his studies in Rome, he died of rheumatic fever in 1920 at the age of 22. Because of his exceptional life of virtue, a cause for his canonization was opened in 2001. A $3,000 scholarship funded through the NCCS Scholarship Endowment has been established in his memory.
The Bill and Kay Davies Scholarship
$2,000 NCCS Scholarship
Through a generous contribution from Bill and Kay Davies, a $2,000 NCCS Scholarship has been established. Scouting has been part of the Davies family for many years; their two sons and grandson are all Eagle Scouts. The Davies have been members of the NCCS since the early 1990s. Kay has served many years as the Advisor of the Conference Committee and is a recipient of the Silver St. George Award. Bill served as the NCCS National Chair for three years, Finance vice-chair for six years, and is an Executive Board member. In addition to activity on the NCCS, Bill chaired the Archdiocese of St. Paul and the Minneapolis Catholic Committee. He is a recipient of the Brother Barnabus Founders Award, Silver St. George Award, and recently received the BSA National Duty to God Award. Because of their strong belief in Catholic Scouting, Bill and Kay have funded a $2,000 annual scholarship.
The Tony & Patrice Steenkolk Family Scholarship
$2,000 NCCS Scholarship
Through a generous contribution from Tony and Patrice Steenkolk, a $2,000 NCCS Scholarship has been established. Their four sons have all attained Eagle Rank, Vigil Honor in Order of the Arrow and Roman Catholic religious emblems. The couple have two passions in Scouting: Duty to God and teaching leadership. Tony has promoted Duty to God for over 15 years at every level, staffed National Youth Leadership Training nine times, including scoutmaster and Wood Badge staff. Patrice is also Wood Badge trained and was chosen to be on staff. Tony has been awarded the Bronze Pelican and St. George religious emblems, Silver Beaver, Distinguished Commissioner Service and holds Vigil Honor in Order of the Arrow. A member of the Catholic Committee on Scouting for the Archdiocese of Chicago, he chairs the subcommittee for his council. Patrice is a member of this subcommittee and enjoys teaching the NCCS Religious Activity American Saint series for the council’s annual Catholic Camporee. They are excited to be able to help others with the financial burden of attending college.
2023 Recipients
The National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS) awarded ten scholarships totaling $27,000 in 2023. Congratulations to the ten exceptional Scouts awarded NCCS Scholarships in 2023. Each winner demonstrates outstanding leadership and service in four areas: Church, community, school, and Scouting, earned the Eagle, Summit, or Quartermaster award, and at least one of the following, Ad Altare Dei, Pope Pius XII, or Light is Life (Eastern Rite) Religious Emblem.
EMMETT J. DOERR MEMORIAL SCOUT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
- $5,000 – Jack Gros, Oakland, CA Diocese of Oakland, Piedmont Council
- $4,000 – Bridget Brady, Byrum, NJ, Diocese of Patterson, Patriots’ Path Council
- $3,000 – Salvatore C. Aloisio, Mankato, MN, Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Northern Star Council
- $2,000 – Sean Castillo, Liberty Township, OH, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Dan Beard Council
- $2,000 – Luciano Grande, Lancaster, NY, Diocese of Buffalo, Greater Niagara Frontier Council
- $2,000 – Eli Ramthun, Hudson, WI, Diocese of Superior, Northern Star Council
- $2,000 – Mark Rowell, Marietta, GA, Archdiocese of Atlanta, Atlanta Area Council
FRANK PARATER SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
- $3,000 – Luke Mosca, Paramus, NJ, Archdiocese of Newark, Northern New Jersey Council
BILL AND KAY DAVIES SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
- $2,000 – Robert Riordan, Alpharetta, GA, Archdiocese of Atlanta, Atlanta Area Council
THE TONY & PATRICE STEENKOLK FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
- $2,000 – Nicholas Mahoney, Lewisburg, PA, Diocese of Harrisburg, Susquehanna Council
View a profile of each of this year's recipients