2024 Religious Emblems @ NAM

During the 2024 National Duty to God Breakfast we were able to recognize five outstanding Scouts and adults from the local area that had recently earned their religious emblem. How does your council recognize emblem recipients?

Hunter Muzeka: Central Florida Council, Roman Catholic, Parvuli Dei

Hunter Muzeka is a 4^th grade student at Annunciation Catholic Academy in Altamonte Springs, Florida. Hunter is currently on the principals honor roll for his terrific grades and attendance. His favorite subjects in school are math and history. Hunter enjoys playing soccer, going to art classes, is currently a Webelos in Cub Scouts, and is getting ready to test for his black belt in Karate in December.

A fun fact about Hunter is he plays the piano and lives on a farm; he has two golden retrievers and 22 chickens. Hunter enjoys going to church each Sunday and is working on continuing to strengthen his relationship with God.

Dennis Crowley: Gulf Stream Council, Judaism, Etz Chaim

Dennis is currently a Life Scout in Troop 336 in Boca Raton, Florida where he currently serves as Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. Dennis has also served as Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader, Troop Guide, and Den Chief.  Dennis is a recipient of the Ner Tamid and Etz Chaim religious emblems, and has also received the James M. Stewart Good Citizenship Award. He is also active in Ship 339 based out of Lighthouse Point, Florida, where he serves as a Crew Leader. In his free time, Dennis enjoys camping, sailing, swimming, hiking, and has won multiple tournaments in Congressional Debate. Dennis is a brotherhood member of Aal-Pa-Tah Lodge #237, where he currently serves as the NOAC Patch Design Chair. Dennis is active in Scouting, and is very excited to continue his leadership in all aspects of his life.

Aasiyah Ba-Yunus: Greater Hudson Valley Council, Muslim, In the Name of God

Aasiyah Ba-Yunus, the newest Eagle Scout from Girls Troop 5164 of Yorktown Heights, NY, is currently a sophomore at Puntam Valley High School. A trailblazer from the start, Aasiyah was a member of the first all-girls Webelo den in Cub Scouts in 2018, and was awarded her Arrow of Light on February 10, 2019, the day that BSA allowed girls to join Boy Scouts. While a Webelo, she also was the very first female Muslim Cub Scout in the nation to earn the Islamic Emblem through the National Islamic Committee on Scouting. Aasiyah was also recently awarded the In the Name of God Islamic Emblem, making her the first Muslim female scout to have earned both the cub scout-level and scout-level emblems, and achieve Eagle Scout rank. The National Islamic Committee on Scouting USA’s MESA (Muslim Eagle Scouts Alumni) selected Aasiyah to be the NICS Member to represent Eagle Scouts on the NICS Board.

Living her life according to the Scout Law, academically, Aasiyah is in the top 10% of her class, is a candidate for the International Baccalaureate diploma, a member of the National Math Honor Society, and National Science Honor Society. Aasiyah has also always been involved in her local Muslim community, serving as a teacher in the mosque’s weekend school, being an active participant in the local and regional Young Muslims organization, as well as with the Muslim Youth of North America.

Hannah Todd: Mecklenberg County Council, Baptist, God & Life

Hannah Todd is from Crew 1465 in Mecklenburg County Council, North Carolina, Territory 15. Currently serving as the 2023-24 National NVOA Vice President of Program, Hannah’s leadership journey began at the age of 14 when she wholeheartedly embraced Venturing. Over the years, she has dedicated herself to serving her Crew, Troop, Ship, Council, and Lodge.

A rising junior at Mars Hill University, Hannah is pursuing a degree in Recreation Management. When not immersed in Scouting activities, she enjoys quality time with her family, fishing, kayaking, or offering tours of her university campus.

Hannah’s deep-rooted faith has significantly influenced her life, culminating in her attainment of the “God and Life” award a few years ago. This endeavor inspired her personal code of conduct, guiding her life’s journey.

A driving force behind the #VenturingLegacyProject initiative, Hannah has also ventured into the realm of podcasting with “Leading Our Adventures.” Through this platform, she delves into topics ranging from launching Venturing Crews to showcasing programs, exploring various leadership opportunities, and more.

Christina Karandreas: Central Florida Council, Eastern Orthodox, Prophet Elias

Christina Karandreas currently serves as Scoutmaster of Troop 4501 chartered by the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Orlando.  Her journey in Scouting began in 2014 when she became a Den Leader of Pack 9.  Since then, she has also served as Pack Fundraising Chair, District Camp Card Chair, Friends of Scouting Representative, Assistant District Commissioner, and District Training Chair. She was award the District Award of Merit in 2018, and the District Commissioner of the Year Award in 2022. On February 11, 2024, she was awarded the Prophet Elias Award of the Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting for her many years of service to the Scouting Program and the Orthodox Faith.