Flying High – Iowa Virtual Academy grad becomes an Eagle Scout

Earning the rank of Eagle Scout is one of the most prestigious accomplishments that any young person can achieve. The combination of diligence, dedication, and selfless leadership that it takes to satisfy the criteria to become an Eagle Scout is widely recognized as an impressive validation of character and commitment.

So, when Jackson Krueger, a Stanton, Iowa resident and recent graduate of Iowa Virtual Academy (IAVA), recently earned his Eagle Scout rank, it was cause for celebration among not just his friends, family, and fellow Boy Scouts, but across the IAVA community. Becoming an Eagle Scout is a rare honor achieved by only 6% of Scouts. It requires years of hard work and a long and well-documented record of service and sacrifice. For Jackson, this honor is the pinnacle of 13 years in Scouting, a journey that began for him all the way back in first grade when his father encouraged him to get involved.

“Scouting has been such an important part of my life for so long,” he says. “Earning the rank of Eagle Scout really is like a dream come true. It’s a validation of so many years of participation and hard work—and having a lot of fun along the way.”

As part of his Eagle Scout application, Jackson completed a 100-hour service project, creating a bike repair station for cyclists along the popular Wabash Trace Nature Trail. A converted railroad right-of-way, the Wabash Trace Nature Trail runs across 63 miles of scenic Southwest Iowa countryside.

“Getting the idea for the project was just the beginning,” explains Jackson. “I had to create a detailed proposal and present the idea to the Wabash Trail management authorities at one of their board meetings.”

Approvals secured, Jackson oversaw a team of more than a dozen volunteers (including some fellow scouts, Scoutmasters and their family members) to install the station on a beautiful fall weekend last November. The finished station includes a rack to hold a bicycle and several tools that cyclists can use to fix their bike and get back on the trail.

When Jackson went before the Eagle Scout Board of Review for an interview this February, it may have been the final step in his certification to become an Eagle Scout, but it was really the culmination of what has been nearly a lifelong journey. According to Jackson, that journey likely never would have happened the way it did without the support of IAVA and its unique learning environment.

“IAVA has been a game-changer for me. Not only have I been able to save time avoiding long bus trips and other time-consuming logistics, but it’s enabled me to focus on my schoolwork and my Scouting projects—all as part of a personalized schedule that worked for me.”

Jackson is grateful for the “amazing teachers” and the great experience he enjoyed as an IAVA student.

“It’s not just about academic excellence, but also about making real connections—and benefitting from an instructional model that allows me to apply myself in other ways. It’s not an overstatement to say that it was a huge part of making it possible for me to become an Eagle Scout.”

Progressing through the ranks in Scouting, working on merit badges, and volunteering his time for a local movie theater and for the Iowa State Department of Natural Resources are all endeavors that IAVA made a little easier for Jackson to achieve while keeping pace with his studies.

“I would highly encourage any young person to get involved in Scouting,” says Jackson. “It’s an experience that is all about learning and having fun. It’s about rewarding curiosity and building confidence and giving back to the community.”

For leading online schools like IAVA, achievements from students like Jackson are a validation of the ways in which an engaging, immersive, and supportive online learning environment can help young people pursue their passions, achieve their goals, and realize their full potential. There might not be an official badge for that, but it’s clearly a concept with real and lasting merit.