The Idaho State Chapter, Order of DeMolay, awarded John Michael Lenker, a freshman at the College of Southern Idaho and Past State Master Councilor of the Idaho Chapter, the ‘DeMolay International Distinguished Service Award’ at their annual statewide conclave on March 31, 2012 in Boise ID.
The DeMolay International Supreme Council established the Distinguished Service Award in the fall of 1959. In some jurisdictions, this award is known as the "DeMolay of the Year" award. The purpose of the award is to recognize one DeMolay in each jurisdiction for outstanding service to others, in his home, school, church, Chapter, community, and country.
The Chapter's Advisory Council members select one or more members of the Chapter whom they believe worthy of this recognition. Adult leaders in the community then are asked to evaluate the nominee's performance in various areas.
When all of the endorsers' recommendations have been returned to the Chapter, the Advisory Council selects one Chapter member as its nominee for the DSA and sends the nomination to the Executive Officer.
The DeMolay fraternity is the premier and most widely prestigious youth organization in the world dedicated to teaching young men between 12 to 21 years of age to be better persons and leaders. DeMolay members learn leadership skills, public speaking, time management, and financial management. In addition to these skills, DeMolay also offers an expansive social and athletic program with the opportunity for civic awareness, responsibility, and character development through a variety of self-directed, real world applications and activities.
Numerous young men in the United States actively participate in DeMolay chapters today and well over one million men have benefited from the DeMolay program and experience since it was founded in 1919. There have been Senior DeMolays that have achieved greatness and fame as Astronauts, Presidents, U.S. Senators, Governors, business leaders, and successful community minded citizens.
