Biltz honored as 2025 Scouter of the Year at annual dinner
Melissa Biltz of Glenmont was honored as the 2025 Scouter of the Year at the Killbuck District Recognition Dinner on Feb. 20.
Melissa Biltz of Glenmont was honored as the 2025 Scouter of the Year at the Killbuck District Recognition Dinner on Feb. 20, as 86 Scouts and adult Scout leaders were in attendance at First Presbyterian Church in Wooster for the annual Scouting celebration event.
Biltz has been an adult volunteer in Scouting for over 20 years. She served as den leader, pack treasurer and committee chair for Cub Pack 357 in Millersburg and as Cubmaster of Pack 315 in Killbuck. She helped found Crew 38 in Holmes County and Girl Troop 338 in Holmesville and currently serves as its Scoutmaster. She has served the Killbuck District and Buckeye Council as a merit badge counselor, district membership chair and an NYLT staff instructor.
Biltz was previously honored to receive the District Akela Award, the William D. Boyce New Unit Organizer Award, the Ray Zeigman Award, the District Award of Merit and the Buckeye Council Silver Beaver award.
Formerly the food services director at Garaway Schools and East Holmes Schools, Biltz is a realtor and land developer in Holmes County and makes 300 gallons of maple syrup each year with her family on her farm in Glenmont. She and her husband Scott are the parents of four children: Eagle Scouts Eric Biltz, Mark Biltz and Jason Biltz and Buckeye Council Program and Marketing Director Sarah Biltz.
Eagle Scout Nathan Hopper, the Buckeye Council executive and CEO, was the guest speaker. He shared stories from his Scouting experience as a youth and now as an adult watching young people discover who they are and who they want to be. Hopper challenged those in attendance to make the Scouting program impactful, rich and rewarding for the youth currently involved in Scouting. He also urged everyone to share the Scouting story with others to reach those youth who have not yet discovered all Scouting can offer.
Eleven Scouts from Wayne and Holmes counties who earned the rank of Eagle in 2024 were recognized at the event: Taya Beccerra, Troop 68, Wooster; Joshua Bode, Troop 61, Wooster; Daniel Boyer, Troop 63, Wooster; Ronald Bricker, Troop 66, Wooster; Caleb Dunn, Troop 73, Smithville; Xantheus Hasskew, Troop 71, Shreve; Rhyse Keplar, Troop 60, Orrville; Alex Knopp, Troop 68, Wooster; Anthony Tartani, Troop 63, Wooster; Hugo Veney, Troop 61, Wooster; and Quentin Vehrs, Troop 356, Nashville.
The following adults were recognized for their contributions to Scouting:
—Commissioner Wreath of Service Award: Todd Gordon, Holmesville, and Michael Robinson, Orrville.
—Akela Award: Leah Riemenschneider, Millersburg, and Sylvia Sanderson, Smithville.
—Cubmaster of the Year Award: Derrick Fox, Millersburg.
—Killbuck Award: Michael Robinson, Orrville.
—Ray Zeigman Award: Darcy Becker, Wooster.
—District Award of Merit: Mark Fannin, Wooster.