Founder’s Award

The Order of the Arrow Founder's Award is the highest national award given at the lodge level. It was first introduced at the 1981 National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC), following the death of Dr. Goodman.

This award honors Arrowmen in the OA for unselfish service above and beyond their normal duties to their lodge. Our lodge may present the award to up to two arrowmen annually, but one must be a youth under 21 years old. Lodges are not required to give the Founder's Award if they feel that no one is worthy of it. A member may only receive the award once in his or her life

The award is a bronze medallion bearing the images of founder E. Urner Goodman, and cofounder Carroll A. Edson. The reverse of the medallion read "For he who serves his fellows, is of all his fellows, greatest" which was Goodman's prime reason for starting the Order of the Arrow. The recipient is also presented with a certificate detailing his or her name and lodge and a red ribbon with gold arrow for the uniform.