2026 LODGE OFFICERS
Chris Thompson
Lodge Chief
Chris Thompson was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina. A third generation Eagle Scout, he began his scouting journey at the age of 6 as a Tiger Cub in Cub Scouts, He received his Eagle Scout at the age of 16, then went on to lead a crew to the Philmont Scout Ranch in 2022, a troop representing the Palmetto Council at the National Scout Jamboree in 2023, and an NYLT course in 2024, and teach shotgun shooting at Camp John J Barnhardt for 2 years. He has also staffed NYLT 4 times, and served Skyuka Lodge as the 2022 treasurer and 2026 Lodge Chief.
Alex Miller
Vice Chief of Program
Alex Miller is an Eagle Scout from Troop 1830. He has been in scouts since 2017 when he started as a tiger in cub scouts with pack 1830. He crossed over to troop 1830 in February of 2022. He was elected into the OA in 2023 and completed his ordeal in summer of the same year. He did his brotherhood in spring of 2024. He got his Eagle in November of 2024. At fall fellowship 2024 he ran for Vice Chief of Inductions and was elected. He served as the 2025 Vice Chief of Inductions, and is current the 2026 Vice Chief of Program.
Chris Herring
Program Advisor
Chris is in Troop 219 in Fort Mill, SC, and joined Skyuka Lodge in 2019. Chris completed his Ordeal in 1993 as a part of the Quanopin Lodge 309 in Massachusetts and then his Brotherhood in 1994. He was awarded the Vigil Honor after serving in several LEC positions, including Lodge Chief in 1997 as a part of a merged Grand Monadnock Lodge 309. Chris has served as Skyuka’s Inductions Advisor since 2021, was awarded the Founder’s Award in 2023, and the Indian On the Mountain Award in 2025.
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Sean Shugart
Vice Chief of American Indian Affairs
Sean Shugart is a Life Scout in Troop 33, in Rock Hill, SC. He completed His ordeal in Spring of 2023, and completed his brotherhood in fall of that year, in 2025 Sean served as York Chapter Chief, Ceremonies, and Elections Chair, He is the current VCAIA and is an active ceremonialist.
Matthew Cline
American Indian Affairs Advisor
Matthew was inducted into the OA in Skyuka Lodge in 2017 and has been an active member since, serving in various roles, including Chapter Adviser and Firebirds Adviser. He became a Brotherhood member in 2018 after surviving the flood that destroyed Camp Bob Hardin and his car. He was honored with Skyuka Lodge's Indian on the Mountain Award and the Vigil Honor in 2023, and the Founder's Award in 2026. He began serving as American Indian Affairs Adviser in 2026. Outside of the lodge, he also serves as District Commissioner.
Ryan Patrick
Vice Chief of Inductions
Ryan Patrick started Scouts in 2015 as a Tiger Scout moving through the Cub Scout ranks(Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos) finally completing AOL where he then joined troop 219 at St. Philip Neri. Once in the troop he became the patrol quartermaster, patrol leader, ASPL, SPL, and is currently a junior assistant scout master and life scout. He joined the order of the arrow in Spring of 2024 completed Brotherhood in Fall of 2024 where he quickly took on the role of an elangomat. After doing that three times he took the position of vice chapter chief for the York Chapter and is now the 2026 vice chief of inductions for Skyuka Lodge. He joined Crew 4213, has staffed NYLT and has also staffed Cub Scout Summer Camp for 3 years. One special thrill he experienced was attending Jamboree in 2023.
Nick Schwartz
Inductions Advisor
Nick is a longtime Scout and Scouter, earning his Arrow of Light and Eagle Scout. Nick received his Vigil Honor in 1997. He now resides in Troop 67 in Spartanburg, SC, as the Advancement Chair. Nick has recently graduated from Clemson University with a Masters in Public Administration, and is currently searching for the meaning of life. "To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of women." - Conan the Barbarian
Mckenzie Schwartz
Secretary
Mckenzie Schwartz is an Eagle Scout from Troop 67 in Spartanburg, SC. Joining Cub Scouts in 2017, and then later finding her home within Troop 67 in 2022, and subsequently joining Skyuka Lodge as an Ordeal member the following year, along with gaining Brotherhood that same year. Kenzie is an active member of the ceremonies team. Kenzie has served as Secretary since the summer of 2025, and was awarded the Founders Award for 2025.
Charles Cassar
Secretary Advisor
Charles has been a member of Troop 250 in Fort Mill since 2012, where he serves as an Assistant Scoutmaster. He was inducted into the Order of the Arrow with Skyuka Lodge in 2015 and received the Vigil Honor in 2018.
After serving as the York Chapter Advisor from 2017 to 2019, he stepped into the role of Secretary Advisor in January 2026. Scouts wishing to practice French or earn the BSA Interpreter Strip are welcome to have a conversation with him en français!
Cassidy Kerns
Treasurer
Cassidy Kerns is a Life Scout in Venture Crew 4213. She was the Skyuka Trading Post Chair in 2024. Last summer, Cassidy staffed the trading post at the largest summer camp in the BSA, Camp Woodruff, and was asked to staff again in 2025. She was the only female to go through the Ordeal in Spring 2021 and the only girl to go through Brotherhood in Fall 2022. Cassidy has plans to bring more swag into our trading post and to instill a love of trading patches, hats, pins, and more into future generations.
ELIZABETH STONER
Treasurer Advisor
Elizabeth Stoner joined Scouts as a member at large in York in 2005, seeking to serve the community. She completed Ordeal in 2009 and Brotherhood in 2010. Elizabeth was one of the Lodge's AIA advisors for several years and received the Vigil Honor in 2015. She has been the Treasurer's Advisor since 2019. Elizabeth was a Founder's Award recipient in 2021 and an Indian on the Mountain Award recipient in 2024.
Joseph Cohen
Immediate Past Lodge Chief
Joseph Cohen is an Eagle Scout from Troop 275 in Indian Land, SC. He has been in Scouts since 2011, beginning his scouting career in Pack 717 and later in Troop 4016 in the Hudson Valley Council in New York. He has been in the OA since Summer Ordeal 2019 with Skyuka Lodge. He went through his Brotherhood in the Fall of 2020 and received his Vigil honor in 2023. He was the York Chapter Chief for the lodge in 2022, the VCAIA for the lodge in 2024, and Lodge Chief in 2025. He was awarded the Founders award in 2024.
Sandi Patrick
Lodge Staff Advisor
My name is Sandi Patrick and I have been in scouting for the last 11 years. I began with my sons when they joined as Tigers and ended up taking over as their Den leader. I was also very involved with the Pack committee and the York District Day Camp for many years. When my sons crossed over to Troop 219 I joined their committee. Since then I have enjoyed all the many camp outs and activities I have been able to attend as a scout leader. In 2024 I not only became a professional scouter but I was also inducted into the OA and was able to obtain my brotherhood in the fall of 2024. Since then I have had the privilege of serving the OA as the staff advisor and now also taking on the role of craft advisor.