Alexis McCullough of Bourbonnais, Illinois, was named The American Legion’s Eagle Scout of the Year for 2026 and will receive a $10,000 college scholarship, according to a May 13 announcement. McCullough is a senior at Bradley-Bourbonnais High School and a Life Scout in Scouts of America Troop 319G.
The recognition highlights her dedication to honoring military families through community service. McCullough’s Eagle Scout service project involved creating and dedicating a Gold Star Families Memorial Monument in Marcotte Park, Bourbonnais, in memory of her late father, Army Col. Mark McCullough, who died in 2019.
“In honor of my late father’s service and sacrifice for our country, I created a community service initiative that raises awareness about the families of our fallen military heroes, where I have had the unique opportunity to represent my community while advocating for a cause close to my heart,” Alexis wrote in her application for Eagle Scout of the Year. “This work is both deeply personal and incredibly meaningful, and has allowed me to turn grief into purpose and impact.”
McCullough dedicated the memorial on Memorial Day in 2025 after organizing an effort involving 380 volunteers who contributed more than 5,500 hours and raised $120,000 through donations and grants. “Once my project was completed, it stood as a testament to what individuals with passion and determination can achieve when they come together with a shared purpose,” she said. At the dedication ceremony she recalled that “many people expressed their gratitude and shared stories about what the project meant to them. Moments like these remind me why I chose such an impactful project and reinforced my values of community service.”
There are now 155 Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments across all states and one territory as part of an initiative started by Woody Williams—a World War II Medal of Honor recipient—through his foundation. Each monument symbolizes homeland, family, patriotism, and sacrifice; McCullough’s includes an image depicting herself as a young girl holding hands with her father in uniform alongside her mother.
In addition to Scouting achievements—including attending Illinois American Legion Auxiliary Girls State last summer—McCullough is also recognized as an American Legion Samsung Scholarship recipient for 2025. She will be honored at The American Legion’s national convention later this year along with other youth champions. Three runners-up—Joseph Zogheib from Delaware, Michael Korf from Minnesota, and Eric Plath from Indiana—will each receive $2,500 scholarships.
