Grant Hladik Earns Eagle Scout Rank
Grant Hladik
On October 11, 2016, Grant Hladik of University Park was awarded the highest advancement award the Boy Scouts of America offers to Scouts, the rank of Eagle Scout.
A member of Troop 71, chartered by the Central United Methodist Church in Oskaloosa, Hladik is one of approximately 5 percent of all Boy Scouts who attain the Eagle Scout rank, according to the National Eagle Scout Association.
An Eagle Scout candidate must earn a minimum of 21 merit badges and successfully complete a community, church, or school-related project demonstrating leadership and service to earn Eagle Scout rank. Hladik chose to create and manage the development of a fitness trail with exercise areas in University Park that will be tied to the local Mahaska Community Recreation Trail for biking/walking around Oskaloosa. The exercise areas allow full body workouts to complement the MCRF trail, and is located east of the University Park Post Office on 9th Avenue East. Over 300 hours of volunteer work – from Hladik’s Boy Scout Troop and parents, local volunteers and his own time – went into constructing the path and the five wooden workout stations that will be incorporated into University Park’s new community park.
Grant Hladik served as Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, is a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow, and has been involved in Scouting for 12 years, since Cub Scouts. Hladik joins other outstanding American citizens who have become Eagle Scouts, among them former President Gerald R. Ford, Jr., astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, cinematographer Steven Spielberg, and the head of the FBI, William Sessions.
Outside of Scouting, Hladik is a senior at Oskaloosa High School and is an honor student while being active in Student Council, the cross-country team, National Honor Society, and vice president of the new Oskaloosa Interact club. He also works part-time at Fareway Stores Inc. in Oskaloosa.
Grant is the son of Kevin and Vicki Hladik of University Park.
