American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year repeats

HUTCHINSON — The Eagle Scout of the Year for 2024 is the Eagle Scout of the Year for 2023.

Jackson Kramer, with Troop 623 in Hutchinson, is a senior at Hutchinson High School with a 3.9 grade-point average. He was sponsored by Hutchinson Post 96.

Kramer became an Eagle Scout back in October 2019. He is part of the Order of the Arrow. He is active in his church and has received Scouting’s religious awards. He was 2022 Eagle Scout of the Year for the Sons of the American Revolution. He has 23 palms and 139 merit badges.

Troop 623 Scoutmaster Brett Rasmussen said, in his recommendation letter, “Keep in mind, only 1 percent of all Eagle Scouts earn a single Eagle palm. When he joined Scouting, he set a lofty goal of earning every merit badge. Consider it done. With 139 merit badges, he is on a list of just 581 Scouts who have earned every badge since 1910.”

Kramer has received many honors for his service to the community, conservation groups like Ducks Unlimited and in his church. At school, he is on the swim and dive team and he hopes to remain involved with the sport after graduation. He hopes to attend a four-year university. He said he likes the idea of becoming a craftsman.

He also is on track and field, trap-shooting, after-school art club, honor roll, National Honor Society and Link Crew.

Rasmussen said Kramer collected more than 300 flags and worked with Post 96 and other veterans organizations in town to conduct a flag-retirement ceremony. He constructed an oak box where community members can place old flags at the local VFW post for future retirement ceremonies.

His Eagle Scout of the Year application came with letters of recommendation from his Scoutmaster, his swim/dive coach, his math teacher, his Christ the King Lutheran Church pastor, his science teacher, his English teacher (and assistant swim coach), his technology instructor, and his track and field coach. He was nominated by his grandfather, James Anderson.

Kramer plans to attend South Dakota State University in Brookings next fall. He plans on studying mechanical engineering.

“Choosing to be a mechanical engineer is a decision driven by my fascination with how things work and my passion for innovation and design,” Kramer said.

He also hopes to continue in the sport of swimming by teaching youth swimmers.

Kramer will receive a $2,000 scholarship from the American Legion Department of Minnesota Scouting Committee, which is under the Americanism Committee. The funds come from the Minnesota American Legion Foundation Fund 56.

The Scouting Committee met March 9 at Apple Valley Post 1776 with six applicants.

Also, the Scouting Committee awarded a $1,000 donation to the Twin Valley Council based in Mankato. The funds come from the Minnesota American Legion Foundation Fund 81, which is the Boy Scout Council Assistance fund.

Scouting Committee Chairman Chip Manson said he hopes more councils apply for assistance.

To apply for Eagle Scout of the Year or council assistance, visit mnlegion.org/programs, and open the icon of a folder to find “Scouts.” The forms are downloadable PDFs.