VENTURE SCOUT FERNANDO OLIVA RECEIVES HIGHEST YOUTH AWARD IN SCOUTING
An official ceremony to recognize the achievements of 21-year old Venture Scout Fernando Oliva was held on Friday March 25, 2011 at the Holy Redeemer Parish Hall in Belize City.
The Queen’s Scout Award, known under other names worldwide, was awarded to Fernando and presented to him by His Excellency, Sir Colville N. Young, Governor-General of Belize. The Queen’s Scout Award is the highest youth award in Scouting.
In his congratulatory message to Fernando, Hilberto B. Riverol, National Scout Executive for The Scout Association, reminded him that becoming a Scout is a choice made of one’s free will and that a person accepts to live his or her life by a code of conduct that every Scout around the world daily lives by. In so doing, one becomes a member of the largest Movement of young people worldwide. He concluded by saying that receiving the Queen’s Scout Award is not the end, but the continuation of the road that Queen’s Scouts have chosen.
Sir Colville Young, Governor-General of Belize presented the award to Venture Scout Fernando Oliva at which time he read the following message: “As a Queen’s Scout you have prepared yourself for service to God and other people, you have shown yourself a worthy member of the worldwide Scout Movement. I wish you Godspeed on your journey through life: May it prove for you a joyous adventure.” As the official representative of Her Majesty the Queen of England, I Sir Colville Young, Governor-General of Belize, present you with the Queen’s Scout Award.”
The ceremony also included a testimonial given by the honoree. He recalled joining Scouting as a young boy at the encouragement of his aunt. This was the beginning of a long-lasting continuous experience, learning about the outdoors and caring for nature, making new friends both at home and abroad, developing valuable skills and learning about other cultures, both locally and internationally. “The values and principles of Scouting have contributed in making me a better person and has prepared me for the future”, he remarked. He thanked many individuals who steered the course and helped him to reach this milestone. In particular he thanked Mr. Luigi Heredia, past Scout Leader for the 9th Belize St. Ignatius Scout Group, Fr. Noel Leslie the Sponsor of the Group, Mr. Hilberto B. Riverol, Executive Director, and the Sisters of Mercy for their invaluable support.
Fernando attended primary school at St. Joseph School and graduated from Anglican Cathedral College in 2009.
Since receiving the Queen’s Scout award he received an Associate Degree in Civil and Building Engineering from the University of Belize, a Diploma in Project Management from the University of Texas and did 6 months internship with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The Belize Scout Foundation is proud of Queen’s Scout Oliva and congratulates him for his achievements in Scouting and private life. Keep on Scouting Fernando.
Fernando Oliva’s Scout autobiography
1998 joined Scouts at St. Joseph Scout Troop
2002 moved over to 9th Belize St Ignatius Scout Group
2003 Unit Council Training
2004 Awarded the Scout Standard badge
2005 Attended National Jamboree Boy Scouts of America (BSA), Fort AP Hill Virginia
2006 Basic Wood Badge training
2007 Received the Venture Scout Award
2008 International Camp Staff with BSA at Schoellkopf Scout reservation in Buffalo, New York as assistant shooting sport director and specialized in archery
2009 International Camp Staff with BSA Randy Scout Reservation in Chesapeake Bay as aquatic counselor and teaching wilderness survival, life saving and small water vessel maneuver. Specialized in safe swim defense and safety afloat techniques
2010 International Camp Staff with BSA Many Point Scout camp in Minnesota as Camp Commissioner and Assistant Aquatic Director
2011 Chaired Scout Centenary Planning Committee
Awarded the Queen Scout on March 25, 2011
Planned and directed the Scout Centenary Camp in Belize during month of August, commemorating 100 years of Scouting in Belize
2012 Attended the Scout Commonwealth Youth forum in London, England
Received his Queen’s Scout Award at Windsor Palace from Queen Elizabeth and participated in Queen’s Diamond Jubilee parade
2013 Appointed as Venture Scout Commissioner
Participated in pilot Interamerican Leadership Training
2015 Participated in the Better World Framework Seminar in El Salvador
2016 Selected to the Global Planning Team for the 25th WSJ to be held in South Korea in 2023
2017 travelled to Serbia to plan for the bid Korea 2023
2018 Participated in the Scout Color Festival
Received the Wood Badge Award in Administration
2019 Attended the Caribbean Scout Forum in Aruba and won bid for Belize to host next Carib Jam in Belize, Panama, Cuidad de Saber – Revamped the Youth Program
Participated as member of the administrative staff at the 24th World Scout Jamboree in West Virginia
He has served 2 terms as Venture Scout Commissioner and 2 terms as Scout Commissioner