The Evangeline Area Council, Boy Scouts of America has announced that Patrick Norris, founder of Norris International, has been selected to receive the 2019 Iberia Parish Distinguished Citizen Award.

He will be honored at the annual awards dinner on May 9 at Hampton Inn & Suites (400 Spanish Towne Boulevard) in New Iberia, starting with the reception at 6 p.m. and followed by the dinner program at 7 p.m.

For 22 years, the Distinguished Citizen Award event has been one of the Council’s premiere events. The award is an annual recognition of those who give freely of their time and talents to improve the quality of life in Iberia Parish.

Honorees are selected based on how the community has benefited from the individual’s contributions and the lasting effects those contributions have left on the community. Past recipients include Joseph “Si” Brown, Burt Cestia, Dr. George Cousin, Bo Duhe, Phil Haney, state Rep. Blake Miguez, Craig Romero, Paul Schwing, Parish President Larry Richard, Mayor Freddie DeCourt and many more outstanding individuals.

Those who receive the award are not necessarily Boy Scout volunteers, but rather individuals who personify what the Boy Scouts stand for — good citizenship, outstanding moral fiber with a dedication to others, and for living their lives by the Scout Oath and Law.

The purpose of the Boy Scouts of America is to provide an educational program for youth to build character, to train in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develop personal fitness, according to a prepared statement from the Evangeline Area Council. Funds raised from the dinner will help fund Scouting programs, including camp scholarships, recruitment efforts, supplies, and adult leader training for nearly 3,000 youth across Acadiana.

Tickets to the event are $125 each, which includes a donation to the Boy Scouts. To reserve a table, learn more about sponsorship opportunities to support the dinner, or purchase an advertisement in the program, contact Lauren Taylor at 235-8551 ext. 114 or lauren.taylor@scouting.org.