Sitting in a golf cart at the annual Camp Cadet Troop L Golf Tournament at Mountain Valley Golf Course in Barnesville, Trooper Andrew Lynn was surprised to see his family there.

“What are they doing here?” he thought to himself before learning they were there to see him receive the Trooper Ron Johnson Award from the event organizers as the police officer who gives of himself or herself for the betterment of youths.

More than 250 participants who “teed up” to raise money for Camp Cadet joined Lynn’s family in praising the Summit Hill man.

“I was really surprised, and it’s such a nice honor,” Lynn said about his selection in front of his wife, Heather, sons Cooper, 12, and Owen, 6, and his parents, William “Dapper” and Charlene (Frassinelli) Lynn. His sister, Suzanne, and her husband, Josh Black, and their son, Bo, were vacationing and unable to attend.

The award is named in memory of Johnson, formerly of Pottsville, a state trooper for 25 years before retiring in 1990 from the Reedsville barracks. Johnson, who was instrumental in the founding and developing of Camp Cadet, died in 2011 at the age of 74 after an 11-1/2-year battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Lynn was formally introduced by Cpl. Mark Knock, Troop L Camp Cadet Charity Golf Outing director, who told the golfers, family and friends, “No one (is) more deserving (than Lynn).

Knock, who received the award in 2022, said that it is given in even numbered years to a state trooper and in odd numbered years to a municipal police officer from departments in Schuylkill, Berks and Lebanon counties.

Detailing the criteria for the honor, Knock said the selectee must have completed “100 hours of volunteer service that involves youth enrichment programs; must work in one of the three counties; and must be endorsed by a colleague.”

Calling Lynn “a truly exceptional individual,” Knock added, “This recognition is reserved for an individual who goes above and beyond the call of duty and demonstrated unwavering support for our local youths.”

For Lynn, who was nominated by a colleague from the Frackville barracks where he is assigned, the 100-hour criteria is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, as his volunteer work has no limits, including chores like field maintenance, league organizing and a number of other “jobs” that have occupied his free time.

“I like doing it,” he simply stated. “I love sports and I love being around the kids and the guys who I coach with.”

Besides his duties as assigned to the Troop L patrol detail at Frackville, Lynn has put in years of service to youth athletics. The 2002 graduate of Panther Valley High School, where he was a three-sport (football, basketball and baseball) standout athlete, enlisted in the state police in 2015. But before that, he began his coaching duties in 2007 in the Northern Lehigh High School football program, where he coached until 2015.

He then went to the state police academy in Hershey and ultimately was assigned to Troop H, Harrisburg.

Now assigned more locally, Lynn continues to support youth programs as a head coach in the Anthracite Little League program, where he is completing his ninth year.

From 2021 to this year, he has been a Panther Valley Youth Basketball program coach and volunteer, and for the past three years, he has served as the offensive coordinator for his alma mater’s high school football team, the Panther Valley Panthers.

Lynn received the award from Knock, Kurt Katzenmoyer, president of the Camp Cadet board of directors, and Trooper Ethan Brownback, community service officer for Troop L and director of Camp Cadet.

Camp Cadet will embark on its 37th year on Aug. 11. It is an overnight, weeklong summer camp held at Camp Manatawny, Douglassville, for youths 12-15 from Schuylkill, Berks and Lebanon counties, focusing on the importance of integrity, respect, teamwork, discipline and education on different types of law enforcement. It provides a positive growth experience within the framework of a “mini police academy” structure.

Throughout the week, campers compete in challenges that require them to work in teams while practicing problem solving skills and communication. Other activities include horseback riding/handling, shooting, scuba diving, sports, drill instruction and physical activity, along with presentations and demonstrations from local law enforcement.