Lincoln Electric receives Boy Scouts of America's North Star Award for volunteer efforts

The Boy Scouts of America has awarded Lincoln Electric, Cleveland, with its North Star Award for the welding equipment manufacturer's efforts in supporting the BSA's Welding Merit Badge program, which rolled out in 2012.

The award is presented by councils on behalf of the National Court of Honor for non-Scout volunteers who have made a significant contribution to Scouting. The Scouts have named approximately 20 North Star Award recipients since the award’s inception in 2011.

Lincoln Electric not only has assisted with the badge's development in conjunction with other welding industry organizations, it also hosted a welding day for more than 100 Cleveland-area Scouts in April and participated in the 2013 National Scout Jamboree in West Virginia, where more than 4,000 Scouts tried their hands at live welding. In addition, Lincoln Electric teamed up with the AWS Careers in Welding Trailer to allow Scouts to use the VRTEX® 360 Virtual Reality Welding Trainer.

Going forward, the company will offer resources for counselors wanting to teach welding to Scouts earning the badge, including a curriculum with lesson plans, visual aids, and safety information. Lincoln Electric's national sales and distribution network is working with local agencies to offer tours and workshops designed for Scout troops.