Oliver Burke of Dallas will receive a $10,000 scholarship, and three runners-up will each receive $2,500.
Oliver Burke of Dallas is The American Legion’s Eagle Scout of the Year for 2025. As the Legion’s Eagle Scout of the Year, Burke will receive a $10,000 college scholarship. Three runners-up will each receive a $2,500 scholarship – Jack DeBisschop of Connecticut, Nicholas Storm of Florida and Morgan Johnson of Oklahoma.
“Thank you so much for this honor!,” said Burke, who earned all 139 Scouting Merit Badges. “I am truly floored by this award, and I am very proud to represent The American Legion in this way.”
Burke, who recently graduated from Greenhill School, is a member of Boy Scout Troop 577. For his Eagle Scout project in 2023, Burke aided in the sustainability of the Blackland Prairie ecosystem at the Connemara Conservancy in Dallas by tackling erosion. He planted native Texas grasses, and built and disbursed 3,800 wildflower seed balls into the conservancy under the guidance of Bob Mione, Connemara Conservancy Meadow manager. Burke’s Eagle Scout project involved over 100 volunteers, 348 service hours and a Hershey’s Heartwarming Young Heroes grant.
“By preventing erosion and supplementing the meadow with native grasses and wildflowers, my volunteers and I have helped preserve and enhance the endangered Blackland Prairie ecosystem for both my generation and future generations,” Burke said.
“We at the Connemara Conservancy, and I personally, are extremely impressed with Oliver's ideas, innovation, leadership and follow-through,” Mione wrote in his letter of recommendation for Burke to be named the Legion’s Eagle Scout of the Year. “We have been equally thrilled with Oliver's efforts to locate funding and public recognition from the Hershey Company on our behalf. It is very impressive that a teenager would independently seek out grants for an organization, and we appreciate Oliver's support.”
In recognition of being named the Eagle Scout of the Year, Burke will attend the 106th National Convention in Tampa, Fla., with other American Legion youth champions.
“I have loved all my interactions with this program, and I look forward to giving back to this community through service in the coming years,” Burke said. “Thank you so much again.”
- Scouting