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At last night's Pittsburgh NESA Membership Meeting & Social, it was announced that Ron Herring is to receive the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award at this year's Laurel Highlands Council Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner on November 26th at Acrisure Stadium. This award ceremony will be a rare and special event this is a National level award. 

The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award is NESA's highest honor. It is the most prestigious Eagle Scout related award, having only been awarded to just over 2,000 since it was established in 1969. It is awarded to an Eagle Scout who has achieved extraordinary national-level recognition, fame, or eminence within their profession and/or service to the nation and has a strong record of voluntary service to their community. Stringent criteria begin with a minimum of 25 years “Time in Service” from the official record date an Eagle rank was earned.  That requirement was determined by the average time most nominees need to establish a career, earn peer recognition, awards, fame/eminence, and other factors that are considered for DESA selection.   

This award is presented on a National level, not at a local Council or NESA Chapter level, however, nominations for the DESA Award can be made at the local level. A committee comprised of Distinguished Eagle Scouts carefully reviews all nominations and determines selections. When time permits, the committee may provide feedback on nominations that may receive further, future consideration.

Ron Herring spent his entire career at Mine Safety Appliances Company (now MSA-The Safety Company).  He started in 1983 as a sales rep in New Jersey in MSA's Safety Products Division and worked his way up to being its Vice-President, General Manager.  When the Safety Products Division was combined with MSA’s Instrument Division, Ron was promoted to Vice-President, Global Product Leadership where he served for 5 years as MSA’s Chief Technology and Chief Marketing Officer.  Ron then moved to Europe to become President of MSA’s International operations in Europe, the Middle East, India, Russia and the Caspian Region, and after 4 years, he became Senior Vice-President, and President of all of MSA’s International operations outside of North and South America.  In 2016 Ron moved back to the Pittsburgh area and retired from MSA in October, 2017 after over 34 years with the company.

Ron Herring became an Eagle Scout in 1977 as a member of Troop 86 (Chingarora District) in Marlboro, NJ (Monmouth County Council) after having earned his Arrow of Light in P155. He attended Philmont Scout Ranch as a youth and was a member of the Order of the Arrow.  In 1998 Ron became the Cubmaster of P161 for 2 years in the Greater Pittsburgh Council.  After that, he was a committee member of P161 for 2 years and then the Webelos Den Leader for another 2 years.  When his two sons joined T17 he ran the citizenship merit badges for the troop, was involved in the venture crew, and served as an Eagle Scout sponsor for several boys.  In 2004-05, he served as the Community FOS chair for 2 years in the Japeechen District.  He also served on the Board of the Greater Pittsburgh Council for a year in 2010-11 before he moved to Berlin.  His sons Robert and James are both Eagle Scouts.

Last week, Nick Andreychek and his team at Ergon, Inc. dispatched a volunteer force to Tennessee and North Carolina to provide meals for folks in some of the communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. 

In the course of 2 days they prepared, cooked, and served over 3,200 meals to those in need. 

"I am proud of the great group of co-workers, customers and friends who came out and the work we did and humbled by the devastation Helene caused and the conditions those communities are working through. I lost count of how many “thank you’s” with tears in peoples eyes we got - what we were doing was simple but so appreciated and needed. I’m proud to work for a company like Ergon, Inc. who understands the value of helping communities and the impact it has for the people in them." - Nick Andreycheck

Nick is a Pittsburgh NESA member, earning his Eagle Scout Rank from Troop 210 in Whitehall, PA. We are tremendously proud of Nick and his team for displaying the highest values of Scouting and for living the example of the Eagle Scout Oath. 

If you know of other Pittsburgh-area Eagle Scouts in action, please contact Secretary@nesa-pgh.org. 

NOW: Accepting nominations for the Adams Award thru January 31st, 2025.

Do you know of extraordinary Eagle Scout Service Project that has been completed as of January 31st, 2024? Submit your nomination! Link to PDF nomination form available on our Adams Award page

The Boy Scouts of America, Laurel Highlands Council, is proud to announce that Ron Herring will be honored with the prestigious Distinguished Eagle Scout Award at the Annual Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.

The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award is the highest recognition given by the Boy Scouts of America, presented to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and achievement in their professional and personal lives, embodying the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

Ron Herring, Jr. has been nominated for this esteemed award based on his outstanding contributions to business, community service, and leadership within the Scouting movement. With over 30 years of dedication to Scouting, Ron's impact has reached far beyond the local community, extending globally through his work with MSA, a leading manufacturer of industrial health and safety equipment.

In 1977, Ron achieved the rank of Eagle Scout as a member of Troop 86 in Marlboro, NJ, and since then, he has consistently exemplified the principles of Scouting throughout his life. His commitment to community service and leadership was evident during his tenure as Cubmaster, Committee Member, Webelos Den Leader, and furthermore by contributing significantly to the development of future Eagle Scouts.

Ron's professional journey at Mine Safety Appliances Company (MSA), where he worked for nearly 35 years, showcased his exemplary leadership. Notably, as MSA's Director of Marketing, he played a pivotal role in the company's response to the 9-11 terrorist attacks, providing essential safety products to first responders at ground zero.

Under Ron's leadership, MSA achieved remarkable success in the development and production of safety equipment, including the Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) for the U.S. Army. The ACH helmet, recognized for its life-saving impact in Desert Storm and Desert Shield, received accolades and became the standard for all combat troops.

Ron's influence extended beyond the United States as he served as President of MSA Europe, contributing to transformative changes in the company's European operations. His commitment to innovation and global collaboration led to MSA's significant market presence in critical safety product categories.

Apart from his professional achievements, Ron continued to serve Scouting even during his international assignments. His dedication to the Scouting movement is further highlighted by

his roles as the Friends of Scouting Chair, Laurel Highlands Council Board Member, and Chair of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Eagle Scout Association.

In his return to Pittsburgh, Ron resumed active involvement in charitable activities, contributing to organizations such as the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the University of Pittsburgh's Katz School of Business, and of course the Boy Scouts of America, Laurel Highlands Council.

Ted Rogers, Chairman of NESA Pittsburgh, expressed his enthusiastic support for Ron Herring, stating, "I fully recommend Ron Herring for the honor of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. While his accomplishments are many and impressive, the most incredible aspect of Ron's life is the impact he has had on the people around him."

The recognition of Ron Herring with the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award is not only a tribute to his individual accomplishments but also a celebration of the positive influence he has exerted on the scouting community, the city of Pittsburgh, and the global safety industry.

More information on the Boy Scouts of America, Laurel Highlands Council, National Eagle Scout Association or the Annual Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner can be found at www.lhcscouting.org or by contacting Mike Daniher, at Mike.Daniher@scouting.org or 412-782-2669.

Boy Scouts of America, Laurel Highlands Council, has been the foremost youth-serving organization in our community that develops character, citizenship, and fitness. For over 110 years, it has been our mission to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. Laurel Highlands Council serves over 10,000 youth and 4,000 volunteer adult leaders throughout its multi-state footprint serving Western Pennsylvania, Western Maryland, and parts of West Virginia, making it one of the largest councils in the Boy Scouts of America.

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On Sept. 25, Shady Side Academy senior Katy Appleman became the first female to achieve the distinguished rank of Eagle Scout in the Laurel Highlands Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The Laurel Highlands Council serves nearly 10,000 members in 15 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland.

Appleman joined the Boy Scouts in 2019 and is a member of Troop 9380 in Fox Chapel. For her eagle project, she chose to remove a non-native invasive plant species, Japanese Barberry, from a one-acre section of North Park. The dense bushes block sunlight from the forest floor, making it difficult for anything else to grow, and can harbor large tick populations.
"Once I realized that it was possible to reach eagle before I turned 18, I definitely wanted to reach this achievement," said Appleman. "It's one of the few awards that you can receive before you are an adult which can continue to say something meaningful about your character for the rest of your life. I think that it's incredible to be the first woman Eagle scout in our Council, and I hope that my experience might encourage more young women to strive towards this award as well as experience the incredible community which I found in Boy Scouts."
Katy has completed a backpacking trip to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico and is looking forward to a camping trip on the West Coast Trail this summer.  “I think that the Boy Scouts has done a really good job of teaching not only camping skills but also life skills,” Appleman said.  She has served several terms as her troop’s SPL.