MOOSIC - Two years ago, Rachael Stark searched for a geocache - an item someone hides and seeks using a GPS.

She found something more.

A man whose home was near the geocache told her about the Venturing program of the Boy Scouts of America - a youth development program for boys and girls ages 14 to 20.

On Tuesday, Stark, 18, was awarded the Dr. Sally Ride Supernova Award, becoming the first person to receive the award through the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council.

"It's really exciting," she said before receiving her medal and plaque at the council's annual meeting.

Stark, of Wyoming, is a freshman environmental science major at King's College in Wilkes-Barre. The Nova program is part of the Boy Scouts' initiative for science, technology, engineering and mathematics, known as STEM. Each level of scouting has Nova levels and projects.

To earn the Supernova award, named for the first American woman in space, Stark had to earn three Venturer Nova awards and complete other tasks, including writing a paper and job-shadowing someone in a STEM-related field.

Gerald Ephault, past president of the council, said that the Nova awards go beyond teaching citizenship and character development, to exposing students to science and technology.

"These are the skills necessary for our future," he said. "We're ensuring that we're helping our youth."

Stark, who was joined at Tuesday's meeting by her parents, Michelle and Chuck Stark, said she is thankful she learned about the Venturing program. More than half of her Venturer crew of 17 members is female, and the group plans a variety of adventure activities.

"It's changed my life in so many ways," she said. "It gives you experiences for the rest of your life."

shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT