Dallas Safari Club is pleased to announce Parker Lee Stepan of San Antonio, Texas, and Shae Greidanus of Visalia, California, as the recipients of the Colin Caruthers Young Hunter Award. This award honors young hunters who have met a very strict set of criteria for hunting and academic achievement, as well as community service and leadership.
The award is named for Colin Caruthers, the son of Tommy and Pat Caruthers, longtime DSC Life Members who have been integral to the development of outdoor education programs for DSC. Colin was an avid hunter and wildlife enthusiast from an early age. A people person, he thrived on the camaraderie of the hunting lease and enjoyed learning from other hunters. DSC honors this young hunter's devotion to hunting and conservation through this award.
A DSC Life Member and senior at Central Catholic High School (San Antonio, TX), Stepan is an accomplished hunter and conservationist and is a member of several hunting organizations, including the National Rifle Association, National Wild Turkey Federation, Coastal Conservation Association and Central Catholic Woods and Waters Club. In addition to his hunting achievements, Stepan is also an Eagle Scout, one of the captains on his varsity football team, and the Bravo Company First Sergeant in JROTC.
Stepan has had the opportunity to travel through North America, Namibia, South Africa, and Zambia and has harvested impressive animals, such as reedbuck, springbok, bushpig, fallow deer, Burchell’s zebra, Scimitar-horned oryx, southern greater kudu, impala, and many more.
“Parker’s pursuit of excellence shows not only in his hunting accomplishments but additionally in his efforts to take on service projects in communities locally and abroad. DSC is proud to honor this young man with this award,” Corey Mason, DSC executive director, said.
Stepan said that although many of his hunting plans for 2020 had to be canceled due to the COVID pandemic, he has big plans for the future.
“I am in hopes that I will be able to travel to South Africa and Zambia in 2021 for my safaris and to complete a service project at a community school near Kalomo, Zambia,” Stepan said.