Utah Catholic Venturing into national scouting office

Intermountain Catholic

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Brent Uberty addresses the annual Bishop's Dinner for Scouting. Seated from right are Bishop John C. Wester and Monsignor Terence M. Moore, pastor of Saint John the Baptist Parish.

DRAPER — Last year, Brent Uberty reached a pinnacle as a Boy Scout, but also suffered a disappointment.

An Eagle Scout, Uberty earned the Pope Pius XII emblem from the Boys Scouts of America on March 6, 2010, at the age of 17. The emblem is the highest religious recognition from the Boy Scouts, and Uberty was the first Utahn in several years to receive it. At the time he was running for a national scouting office, but wasn’t successful.

This year has been different. Uberty has been named the Venturing President for Area 2 of the Boy Scouts of America. Area 2, which Uberty leads, includes several areas in Idaho, Montana and Utah.

"Brent’s maturity and leadership skills have put him in positions to take on many key leadership roles, most recently the Venturing president for Area 2," said Matt Boerke, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Salt Lake City.

"I have received all the religious awards and last year I tried but did not get elected, but I’ve made it this year," said Uberty. "I am very proud and honored with this position."

Uberty has always worked very hard; he is a young man who always put his faith in front to achieve all his goals, as Boerke said. "Brent is an outstanding young man. He is a faithful Catholic and tries to live out his faith daily. One of the ways he puts his faith into action is through his dedicated service to the Boy Scouts program," said Boerke.

Venturing is a scouting program that concentrates on high-adventure activities for young men and women between the ages of 14 and 21; last year, Uberty was vice president of the Venturing Training program. Venturing’s purpose is to provide positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults.

Uberty, a member of Saint John the Baptist Parish, has been active in the Boys Scouts since he was 8. He became an Eagle Scout four years ago, at the age of 14.

"I am very happy to be able to serve," said Uberty. "The scouts have been a big part of my life. The scouts are part of my daily life. I believe that being a scout has made me a better human being."

Uberty says that being part of the Scouts has meant a lot to him. Because he gets a lot of good learning and experiences, he recommends the program to any boy and girl.

"I try to practice the learning that I have been able to achieve in my daily life," said Uberty.

"I wish more of our young people were so motivated and driven to do good and make change. I look forward to seeing the great things Brent does in this position and as a Catholic young adult in general," said Boerke.