Carlson earns Eagle Scout rank after years of service, leadership

Lennox High School student Jacob Carlson has earned the rank of Eagle Scout, reaching one of the highest achievements in Scouts BSA after years of involvement in the organization. Carlson earned his Eagle Scout rank this past summer. 

For Carlson, earning the rank represents the culmination of years of work and commitment.

“Earning the rank of Eagle Scout means a lot to me,” Carlson said. “It’s a way to show the hours and hard work that I have put toward this organization.”

Carlson began his scouting journey in second grade when he joined Cub Scouts as a Wolf. He continued through Cub Scouts before crossing over to Scouts BSA in sixth grade.

Throughout his years in scouting, Carlson said he has had the opportunity to learn and grow through both successes and challenges.

“My journey has been great,” he said. “I got the opportunity to learn so much from so many people. There were some hard things, but I learned from all the hard moments.”

Carlson said his scoutmaster has played an important role throughout his scouting journey, providing guidance and encouragement along the way.

“My scoutmaster has been one of my biggest mentors during this journey, teaching me lots and helping me to do my best,” Carlson said.

Carlson also credited the parents who have volunteered their time and accompanied Scouts on events and activities, saying he has learned from their involvement as well.

As part of the requirements for earning the Eagle Scout rank, Carlson completed a service project benefiting the Lennox community. He chose to build set pieces for the Lennox High School theater department.

Carlson said he selected the project after talking with the theater director and learning the department needed new set pieces to accommodate the new space it had moved into.

After receiving approval to begin the project, Carlson developed a plan and began work a few weeks later. The project took approximately three months to complete, with Carlson and others working for a couple of hours each week. Different portions of the project were completed throughout the process before being brought together.

The project also provided Carlson with an important lesson in leadership.

“I learned that I need to help guide and teach people how to do the work and not just do it for them,” he said.

Carlson said the project taught him to be more intentional about leading others rather than taking on every task himself.

“I found during some of the work times I would just do things when I needed to step back and teach someone else how to do them,” he said.

Through his years in Scouts BSA, Carlson said he has gained not only skills and experiences but also lessons from the people around him. His Eagle Scout achievement marks the completion of a journey that began more than a decade ago in Cub Scouts and continued through his high school years.

For Carlson, the Eagle Scout rank serves as recognition of that commitment while also reflecting the leadership and service he developed along the way.