Longtime UTRS employee Wayne Gross was presented with the Scouting America Silver Antelope Award in the spring at Scouting America’s National Annual Meeting. The Silver Antelope, established in 1942, recognizes Scouters for providing distinguished service within Scouting America’s territories. The awards are given to people with exceptional character for their extraordinary service to America’s youth, which aligns with UTRS’s mission to give back to its communities.
Wayne was the only recipient from Council Service Territory 13, which covers 19 Councils in New Jersey, the Eastern half of Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Silver Antelope Awardees are given a knot for their uniform and a medal featuring an orange-and-white ribbon.
Wayne – a professional engineer and environmental section manager for the UTRS Civil and Environmental Engineering division – has been a Scouting volunteer for 44 years. He currently serves as Cubmaster of a local Cub Scout Pack and Assistant Scoutmaster of a local Troop (he previously served as Scoutmaster for a Troop for 15 years). Wayne has also served in a variety of roles for the local Minsi Trails Council, at the Council Services Territory level, and at the national level, including Outdoor Recreation Program Area Staff Lead at the 2023 and 2026 National Jamborees.
“Scouting has provided so many opportunities to me as a youth and adult so I want to give back,” Wayne says. “It’s important to help youth learn about goal setting and becoming a leader. Scouting opens the doors to many adventures and career opportunities.”