Bordewyk earns Eagle Scout rank

By ELISA SAND, Staff Reporter

Alex Bordewyk of Madison will be recognized as an Eagle Scout in a Court of Honor ceremony at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Bordewyk has been a member of Troop 5. He graduated from Madison High School this spring and plans to attend the University of South Dakota.

Highlights from his years of scouting include the numerous campouts and trips in which he participated. Those included hiking in the Colorado mountains, boating in the Boundary Waters in Minnesota and going to Hawaii.

Being a scout has also provided Bordewyk with good role models and leadership opportunities.

"There's a lot of good role models and from that you're able to build your character," he said. "You're also given a lot of leadership opportunities in scouting."

He said that he has developed many friendships.

"I've gained a lot of friends along the way with other scouts and leaders alike," he said.

While there were times of tension and stress as he worked to complete scouting requirements, Bordewyk said, there was never a point where he said that he couldn't do it.

"I was always determined to finish it," he said.

Having his father as a scout leader also spurred his involvement, as did having an older brother in scouts.

For his Eagle Scout project, Bordewyk built cubbies at each of the dugouts on the six ball diamonds at Baughman-Belatti Park. Those cubbies sit above the benches and provide a place for players to put their personal belongings.

One challenge, Bordewyk said, was the fact that each dugout was different.

"I had to work with each cubbie to make sure it was high enough and that it fit," he said. "But I had a lot of good help and that made it go smoothly."

His project was completed last summer.

For the young Cub Scouts, Bordewyk encourages them to continue moving forward into Boy Scouts where there are more travel opportunities to see and do things they might not otherwise have a chance to do.

And for those Boy Scouts who have their eye on the top Eagle rank, "Don't wait on the Eagle Scout project," he said. "Your 18th birthday comes fast." (All Eagle Scout paperwork is due by a scout's 18th birthday.)

Bordewyk is the son of Doug and Sandy Bordewyk of Madison.

©Madison Daily Leader 2010