MORE THAN A QUEEN

Statistics have shown that less than four percent of all boys involved in scouts earned the Eagle Scout rank. That percentage is significantly lower for girls, of course, since they were only allowed to join four years ago.
Kaitlyn Ludwikowski defied those odds by becoming the first girl from southwest Minnesota to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout and just the third girl in the Sioux Council, which also spans across parts of South Dakota and Iowa.
"We couldn't be more proud of her," said her father, Michael. "We are amazed at everything she has accomplished."
It was the second crowning achievement for the personable Minneota senior after being crowned Boxelder Bug Days queen at last year's coronation.
"They both mean a lot to me," said Ludwikowski, when asked if one of these special achievements holds more meaning than the other. "They are both wonderful experiences and I got to meet so many nice people because of them."
Ludwikowski's older brother Nathaniel became an Eagle Scout in 2019, which inspired Kaitlyn to show that girls can accomplish the same things as boys. Michael, is an assistant scoutmaster for Troop 320 in Marshall. Their mother, Colleen, is a Cubmaster for Pack 320. Two of Kaitlyn's uncles were Eagle Scouts, too.
"I've pretty much always been around scouting," Kaitlyn noted. "Troop 320 was always so welcoming and invited me on outings before girls could join.”“I've always enjoyed it and was glad when they opened it up for girls."
Scouting BSA, Inc. replaced the traditional Boy Scouts of America name in February of 2019, when it opened its doors for girls. Cub Scouts allowed girls to join in September of 2018.
Kaitlyn joined the Scouting BSA in March of 2019. To achieve Eagle Scout status, a scout must first progress through seven ranks – Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle.
Those attempting to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout must then earn 13 specific merit badges, plus eight more badges of their choosing. Finally, they must complete a project that benefits a non-profit organization in the community.
Kaitlyn made carnival games to replace the worn out ones that had been used for various events by St. Edward's School and Church in Minneota.
"That was probably the hardest part I had to do," she said, when asked about her path to becoming an Eagle Scout. "It wasn't that it was hard, but it took a lot of work. Many of the old carnival games were old and falling apart, so I wanted to make new ones.
Among the carnival games she built, where kids can win prizes, was a fishing pond game, a sucker tree, a prize wheel, and a bean bag game. A quilt was used for the front of the fishing pond game. Kaitlyn designed the quilt blocks, picked out the fabric, and designed the block placements for the quilt. She had help from several local and family quilters to sew the quilt blocks and assemble the quilt. Several other people helped build and complete the other games.
"Kaitlyn also had to show leadership with the community project," Colleen revealed. "So, she had to learn to quilt in order to communicate to the quilters who made the quilt just how she wanted it done."
The carnival games have been used for the school's Mardi Gras festival during Catholic Schools Week, as well as for its Fall Festival.
Today, there are 12 girls in Kaitlyn's troop, which is called 238-G. The boys' portion of the troop is referred to simply as Troop 238.
"We go camping with the boys sometimes and have other activities with them," Kaitlyn said.
Kaitlyn is currently working on a 27th merit badge to add to her collection.
"It's a Wilderness Survival badge," Kaitlyn explained. "We had to orienteer with a compass on a trail at the Lake Shetek Camp, we had to make our own shelter out of a tarp and a certain amount of rope and stay overnight in it, and we had to build a fire and cook our own food over it and then keep the fire going all night long."
When asked what she likes best about scouting, Kaitlyn couldn't choose one thing.
"It's a mixture of a lot of things," she replied. "Learning new skills, attending summer camps around the United States and meeting new people from other states. My older brother had the chance to meet scouts from Japan that attended one of his camps."
Kaitlyn's Court of Honor is scheduled for Nov. 19, 2022.
Kaitlyn, who wants to stay involved in scouting and possibly become a Scoutmaster, likes to stay busy. At school, she is one of the captains on the Canby/Minneota Dance team, choreographs dance routines for the Sidekickers in grades 3-6, is a member of the Minneota Robotics team, a National Honor Society and Student Council member, senior class secretary and is planning to try out for the school musical's fall production of The Wizard of Oz. Besides attending eight parades and community events this past year as Boxelder Bug Days queen, she is also Westerheim 4-H president and works for Wild Rose Home Care as a PCA.
"She likes to stay active and she just love helping people," Colleen noted.