Alexis McCullough

Alexis McCullough from Bourbonnais, Illinois, has been awarded the $5,000 Emmett J. Doerr Memorial Scout Scholarship. McCullough belongs to Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in the Diocese of Joliet and is a member of Scouting America Troops 300, 319, 324 and Crew 319 in the Rainbow Council.

McCullough truly embodies the idea of servant leadership. When asked why volunteering is important to her, she responded, “I’ve come to understand that leadership and service guided by faith can leave a lasting impact…. I believe that the most meaningful impact happens quietly in the unseen ways we uplift one another.”

In service to the Catholic Church, McCullough volunteered at Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a musician, choir member, usher, lector and cantor. She also served as a religious education aide, a youth group leader and a vacation bible school aide, totaling over 3,000 hours of service to her parish. She earned the Ad Altare Dei Catholic Religious Emblem offered by Catholic Scouting America.

McCullough served her community through extensive volunteer work and was selected to serve as a page for the Illinois House of Representatives. As Miss Kankakee’s Teen 2025 and later Miss Chicago’s Teen 2026, she championed a service initiative for Gold Star Families, which included lobbying in Washington, D.C. with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors Foundation. Her local efforts benefited organizations such as Best Buddies and various veterans’ assistance commissions. She was awarded the Congressional Award Bronze Certificate and named 2024 Young Citizen of the Year by the Daily Journal for her extensive community service and leadership.

At Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School, McCullough is a member of the National Honor Society and attended Girls State. She participated in a wide array of activities including band, orchestra and chorus, where she served as an officer. Her leadership extended to the Black Student Union and yearbook as an officer, as well as membership in Best Buddies and Students Against Destructive Behaviors. In addition, she competed in varsity wrestling and junior varsity golf.

In Scouting, McCullough held numerous leadership positions in her troop, including senior patrol leader. McCullough is a member of the Order of the Arrow, Scouting America’s honor society. For her Eagle Scout Project, McCullough raised $120,000 through donations and grants to construct a seven-foot-tall Woody Williams Gold Star Families Memorial Monument in the Village of Bourbonnais. She and 300 volunteers contributed more than 6,400 hours of service to build a sacred space honoring military families’ sacrifices while serving as a lasting educational resource for the community. McCullough has been named the American Legion’s 2026 Eagle Scout of the Year.

This year, Catholic Scouting America awarded fifteen service scholarships totaling $40,000 to recognize Catholic Scouts nationwide for outstanding service and leadership in four areas: the Catholic Church, their community, school and Scouting. Since 2005, Catholic Scouting America (NCCS) has awarded a total of $348,000 in scholarships to 146 Scouts nationwide.