Fargo Officer Receives SSG Andrew Nelson Award

Officer Spencer Henning was honored by the Northern Lights Council of Scouting America for servant leadership.

Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Law Enforcement

Fargo Officer Receives SSG Andrew Nelson Award

Fargo Police Officer Spencer Henning received the SSG Andrew Nelson Award for Outstanding Leadership from the Northern Lights Council of Scouting America. The award honors individuals who demonstrate servant leadership and dedication to improving the lives of others.

Why it matters

The award recognizes leadership and service within the Fargo Police Department and the broader Fargo community. It is named in memory of Staff Sergeant Andrew Nelson, an Eagle Scout killed serving with the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division in Iraq.

Henning's award is an honor from the Northern Lights Council rather than a legal or investigative matter, and no charges, court dates, or case developments are involved. The extraction does not specify the date of the presentation or the criteria Henning met beyond the award's general definition of servant leadership.

The players

Spencer Henning

A Fargo Police Department officer honored with the SSG Andrew Nelson Award for Outstanding Leadership, who participated in Scouting while growing up.

Travis Stefonowicz

The Fargo Police Chief who participated in the Northern Lights Council's annual leadership event panel discussion.

Northern Lights Council of Scouting America

The regional Scouting council that presents the SSG Andrew Nelson Award and hosts an annual leadership event.

The details

Henning received the SSG Andrew Nelson Award for Outstanding Leadership, presented by the Northern Lights Council of Scouting America. Fargo Police Chief Travis Stefonowicz also participated in the council's annual leadership event panel discussion, and the Fargo Police Department posted congratulations on social media.

2007: Staff Sergeant Andrew Nelson was killed serving in Iraq.
November 7, 2026: Article published announcing Henning's award.

Legal Context

The award honors a fallen soldier, Staff Sergeant Andrew Nelson, who was an Eagle Scout killed in Iraq in 2007 while serving with the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division. Its presentation to a Fargo police officer links local law enforcement service to Scouting-based leadership traditions tied to military sacrifice.

The award recognizes Fargo officers who demonstrate servant leadership, which may reflect the department's community-facing priorities. Residents interested in local police leadership can follow the Fargo Police Department's public announcements and community events.

The takeaway

Recognition programs like the SSG Andrew Nelson Award highlight how servant leadership can be honored across public service and youth organizations alike. Readers interested in leadership development can look to local Scouting councils for similar programs.