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Scouting Committee Final Report 2024-2025

By Chip Manson - Chairman

The Department of Minnesota American Legion Scouting America Committee met March 8 at Apple Valley American Legion Post 1776 for its annual meeting and selection of the 2025 Eagle Scout of the Year. The winner of the state competition receives a $2,000 scholarship and his nomination package is sent to the National HQ’s April competition in Indianapolis.

The national winner receives a $10,000 scholarship and three other Scouts receive a runner-up scholarship of $2,500. Last year, Minnesota’s 2024 Eagle Scout of the Year was selected as one of these three runner-up winners. So close!

The committee reviewed seven Eagle Scout of the Year nomination packages. All were great applicants; unfortunately, one applicant was disqualified because his troop was not sponsored/chartered by an American Legion Post and he did not have a parent or grandparent (unfortunately, a great-grandparent does not count for this requirement) that was a current member of the American Legion Family (Legion, Auxiliary or SAL).

I had the honor attending the Spring Meetings in Indianapolis May 5 and sat in on the Youth Activities Subcommittee. I learned the National Eagle Scout of the Year is Oliver Burke from Texas; the three runners-up winners were Jack DeBisshop from Connecticut, Nicholas Storm from Florida and Morgan Johnson of Oklahoma. I was surprised to learn that only 19 of the 55 departments submitted a nominee for these awards (of which only 15 met the qualification standards). It was suggested by this committee that complete packages are very helpful and that pictures of the nominee and their Eagle Scout project help the selection committee immensely.

In other business:

  1. The committee reviewed standard requirements for all nominees. They are:
  2. The scout’s troop must be sponsored/chartered by an American Legion Post or have a parent or grandparent that is a current member of an American Legion Family.
  3. All documents must be included in the application — to include school transcripts, proof of current membership in their scout organizations, and that they have received their religious badge award(s).

Has anyone thought of being a co-sponsor of your local scouting program?

  1. The committee reviewed the two American Legion Foundation funds covering scouting programs: Fund 56 (Boys Scout Scholarship Fund) and Fund 81 (Boy Scout Council Assistance Fund).

Fund 56 is still in need of additional donations and will be included in our annual request for donations from Minnesota Legion posts;

Fund 81 is in decent shape and (while donations would be greatly appreciated) we will not ask posts specifically for donations to this fund).

Thank you to all that support the Eagle Scout of the Year program. Don’t be bashful. Share this information with your local Scouting America troops and let them know you are there to help them submit their own Eagle Scout nomination packages. Any questions? Call your district Scouting committee chair!

David “Chip” Manson

Chairman

Scouting America Committee