Oliver Jurek

Oliver Jurek from Plymouth, Minnesota was awarded the $2,000 Brian & Kristine Girskis Family Scholarship. Jurek belongs to St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. He is a member of Scouting America Troop 3477 and Venturing Crew 477 in the Northern Star Council.

Jurek truly embodies the idea of servant leadership. When asked why volunteering is important to him, he responded, “As a Catholic Scout, I volunteer because I believe service is one of the most authentic ways to live out my faith. It allows me to respond to God’s generosity, recognize the dignity of others, and grow in humility and purpose. By giving back in as many ways as I can, I hope to reflect the love I have received and continue growing into someone who serves not out of obligation, but out of gratitude.”

In service to the Catholic Church, Jurek volunteered at St. Mary of the Lake as an altar server and religious education aide, and he was active in the parish youth group. Jurek earned three of the Catholic Religious Emblems offered by Catholic Scouting America, completing Parvuli Dei, Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII.

Jurek served his community by dedicating significant time to the Missionaries of Charity in poverty‑stricken areas of Minneapolis. He prepared and packaged food, organized supplies, and then traveled into tent encampments and under bridges to personally distribute meals. The experience gave him a deeper understanding of poverty and the realities people face. He also contributed more than one hundred hours to conservation efforts and community cleanups. For his commitment to personal development and service, Jurek earned the Duke of Edinburgh International Bronze and Silver Awards.

At Providence Academy, Jurek served as president of the robotics team for more than four years and served as an officer for both band and Student Council. In addition, Jurek was an altar server in campus ministry and competed for two seasons on the junior varsity swim team.

In Scouting, Jurek held numerous leadership positions in his troop and crew, including senior patrol leader, junior assistant Scoutmaster, bugler and crew president. He is a member of the Order of the Arrow, Scouting America’s honor society. Jurek served as both chapter chief and lodge officer and holds the Vigil Honor. Jurek has substantial leadership training and staff experience, including serving on staff for the National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE), supporting multiple OA events and spending 26 weeks on his council’s camp staff. He also earned 135 merit badges, an exceptionally rare accomplishment. For his Eagle Scout Project, Jurek led a team of volunteers to restore the outdoor chapel at Christ Memorial Lutheran Church. He oversaw the replacement of rotted benches, removed large areas of overgrowth and made improvements to the landscaping. A $5,000 federal grant funded the project, allowing the chapel to once again serve its original purpose and provide a welcoming space for church members and local residents.

Jurek also completed a project to earn the Venturing Summit Award, benefiting the College of Wilderness Knowledge program at Birch Bend Camp near Harding, Minnesota. He designed and led the construction of a new storage rack for the camp’s kayaks and canoes, improving the efficiency and safety of the camp’s waterfront program for current and future campers.

This year, Catholic Scouting America awarded fifteen service scholarships totaling $40,000 to recognize 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.