By Tim Wenzl

Southwest Kansas Register

The annual Quest Weekend was held on the campus of Dodge City Community College Feb. 25-27. The theme was "Life Support, Depend on Christ." Nearly 40 Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and adult leaders participated in the activities.

The scouts attending Quest 2005 used the weekend to work toward requirements for religious emblems and medals. Some youths begin work on the requirements at one Quest weekend, work on service projects and other requirements throughout the year, and complete the program the following year at Quest. The award programs cannot be completed in a weekend.

Seven girls were awarded the "I Live My Faith" medal. While working on this award, the girls learn to appreciate more deeply the place that God and religion occupy in their daily lives. They become more aware of their potential as a growing person, a friend, a family member, a citizen, and a participant in the faith community. The following girls received the "I Live My Faith" medal: Rachelle Banning, Blaise Jensen, Rebecca Oberley and Kenzie Schlegel, all from the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe parish, Kristen Schauvilege, of St. Lawrence, Jetmore, and Ciara Springfield of Sacred Heart, Ness City.

Ten young men were awarded the "Ad Altare Dei" emblem. This program is designed to equip Boy Scouts in the seventh grade through high school to take their place in the world as maturing Catholics. The scout lives and applies the things he believes to his daily life and gains a deeper understanding of what it means to be a follower and disciple of Christ. The scout discovers that through the sacraments, he becomes a maturing disciple of Christ. Recipients of this award were: T.J. Geier, of St. Mary, Garden City; Matt Griffin, St. Dominic, Garden City; Tyler Socedo, Catholic Community of Great Bend; Zachary Ricketts, St. Alphonsus, Satanta; and Shane Scott, Michael Snapp, Andrew Oberley, Joshua Oberley, Anthony Lorenz and Austin Davis, all from the Cathedral parish.

Dodge City girl scouts from Troop 205 also attended the Quest awards ceremony and received their "Family of God" emblem. Through prayer and the use of pictures, collages, mobiles and drawings, the girls discovered how they are special to their families and parishes, and the many ways God is present in their daily lives. Diondra Barnes, Jennifer Delzeit, Amanda King, Katelyn McClure, Ashley Millershaski and Kimber Smith were awarded the Family of God emblem. Delzeit, King and Millershaski also received the Year of the Eucharist patch and the Joyful and Luminous patches in the Rosary patch series.

Two adults were recognized for their contributions to Catholic scouting.

Leslie Schauvilege of St. Lawrence, Jetmore, received the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton award. This award recognizes the meritorious contributions of adults who serve youth through girls’ organizations on a parish or unit level. Schauvilege has served as an adult member of Girl Scouts for 15 years. She is currently a troop leader in Jetmore and east district chair for Girl Scouts Tumbleweed Council. She has been a teacher for "I Live My Faith," and an adult staff member for Quest for more than four years.