Hastings Eagle Scout Blake Gerold receives $1,000 scholarship

Hastings Boy Scout Blake Gerold has been presented a $1,000 Eagle Scout Scholarship to continue his education. The presentation was held earlier this month at the Gathering of Eagles at Base Camp near Fort Snelling.

This year the Northern Star Council awarded 32 $1,000 scholarships to candidates demonstrating outstanding troop leadership, scholastic achievement and strong citizenship to the community. The council’s scholarship program has awarded more than $390,000 in scholarships since its inception in 1990.

Gerold is a member of Troop 23 chartered to St. Phillips Lutheran Church in the Eagle River District. Throughout his Scouting career, his favorite memory was his trip to South Dakota with his troop. He held several positions, including librarian and instructor, for the troop.

His Eagle Scout service project was the restoration and installation of park benches in the city of Hastings.

Gerold is graduating this year from Hastings High School, where he was involved in honors band, marching band and show choir. He also attended Minnesota American Legion Boys State in his junior year. Following graduation, Gerold is looking forward to attending the University of Minnesota- Morris in the fall.

The Eagle Scout award is the highest rank in Scouting. Only 4 percent of all Boy Scouts earn the Eagle Scout rank. This year marks the 100th anniversary since the first Eagle Scout award was given in 1912. To commemorate the anniversary, Baylor University conducted a research study. Results show that Eagle Scouts are more likely than other Scouts as well as non-Scouts to participate in healthy recreational activities, show greater connectedness to friends and neighbors and are committed to setting and achieving goals.

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