Pack 22’s Top Seller of the season is Nejan Liyanage! Photo by Umanga De Silva

Troop 22’s Edward Stone, Alexander Hovey and Jared Trujillo, as well as Scoutmaster Carl Iverson and Popcorn Kernel Dana Denning the moment it was revealed that it was only one bag of popcorn that made the difference in getting the #1 Top Seller spot! Photo by Dan Denning

Troop 2’s Freja Hasselstrom and Shae Hinrichs sell popcorn from their storefront at Smith’s Marketplace in Los Alamos. Photo by Erica Hinrichs

BY DANA DENNING

Scouts from Troop 22, Troop 2, and Pack 22 in Los Alamos recently wrapped up another successful popcorn fundraiser, but the true success lies in the lessons they learned along the way. In a town steeped in Scouting history, this year’s effort gave Scouts the opportunity to grow their communication skills, teamwork, and entrepreneurial spirit—all while carrying forward a tradition that has been part of the community for many years.

Through selling popcorn, Scouts learned how to approach a potential sale, speak with
confidence, and handle responsibility. Top sellers went above and beyond, demonstrating determination and leadership – a big congratulations to this year’s outstanding Top Sellers, many who also secured their rank in the Top 25 Sellers within the Great Southwest Council:

Troop 2: Freja Hasselstrom (#1 Troop, #4 Council), Shae Hinrichs (#2 Troop, #7
Council), Vivian Haigh (#3 Troop), Lauren Deming (#4 Troop), Emma Mosby (#5 Troop)

Troop 22: Edward Stone (#1 Troop, #17 Council), Alexander Hovey (#2 Troop, #18
Council) and Jared Trujillo (#3 Troop)

Pack 22: Nejan Liyanage (#1 Pack), Luke Kliesen (#2 Pack), Samuel Coupland (#3
Pack)

The funds raised during this effort help make their Scouting possible by covering
activities like outdoor adventures, skill-building workshops, and community gatherings
that create lasting memories for the Scouts. But more importantly, the experience
teaches them the value of hard work, perseverance, and the rewards of collaboration.

Our new Troop 22 Scoutmaster David Holtkamp reflected, “Scouting has always been an important part of Los Alamos history, and it’s encouraging to the scouting tradition
alive and well in our community. Fundraising helps youth in the scouting organization
with skills they will use for the rest of their lives and also helps them go on amazing
adventures around the U.S. and the world. This year’s fundraising will help scouts go on
summer camps as well as high adventure base trips in Canada and the Caribbean.”

A heartfelt thank-you goes out to the Los Alamos & White Rock community for their
incredible generosity and support. Your encouragement not only helps Scouting thrive
but also provides these young leaders with opportunities to grow, learn, and make
meaningful connections.