Monday, October 12, 2026
When Jack Mihalick, of Valley Stream, first became involved in Scouting, earning the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout was not something he had planned.
“My dad just signed me up,” Jack said. “I never really thought I’d get Eagle, but I had fun with it as I grew up and realized, like, maybe I can get Eagle.”
After years of camping trips, outdoor adventures, leadership opportunities and community service, Jack reached that goal as a member of Theodore Roosevelt Council Scouts Troop 116.
Jack’s achievement was celebrated during a Court of Honor ceremony on Sept. 12 at the Village Green Bandshell in Valley Stream, where he was formally recognized for earning Scouting’s highest rank.
Jack’s father, Andrew Mihalick, serves as scoutmaster of Troop 116 and has been involved with Scouting for about 15 years.
Andrew was a Scout himself growing up, reaching the rank of Life Scout, one level below Eagle. He returned to the program when his own children joined. His older son, Drew, also had attained the rank of Eagle Scout.
“When we went to the first meeting, it was like, ‘Who wants to be the leader?’ and I kind of raised my hand,” Andrew said.
That decision eventually led to about a decade as a den leader and more than a decade as a scoutmaster, giving Andrew the opportunity to watch both of his sons progress through the program.
For Jack, having his father as his scoutmaster meant having someone there to encourage him — and sometimes remind him to get things done.
Andrew joked that being the scoutmaster’s son came with its own responsibilities, including being among the first to arrive and the last to leave.
“There are always times where I’m like, ‘Hey, did you do this for a project? Did you do this merit badge requirement?’” Andrew said. “We like to call it gentle encouragement.”
Still, Andrew said the experience gave him something he valued as a father: the chance to spend time with his sons as they grew up.
“For me personally, I would say I got the benefit of watching my boys grow up, spending weekends with them, camping and all sorts of stuff like that,” he said.
Jack’s Eagle Scout project put many of the skills he learned through Scouting into practice.
He transformed an unused, gravel-covered area at Winthrop Hospital into a community garden by building five raised planter beds. The project required him to develop a plan, receive approval from Scouting leaders and the hospital, raise money and organize the work.
Jack used a GoFundMe campaign to raise enough money to purchase the materials needed for the project. While the physical work was completed in a single day in August 2024, the planning, fundraising and approval process took roughly a year.
Andrew said the process behind an Eagle project can be just as important as the finished product.
“The whole point of the Eagle project is planning,” he said. “There are adults that I know they couldn't run projects like these kids did.”
The project has continued to make an impact at Winthrop. At Jack’s Court of Honor ceremony, his project beneficiary brought photos showing the planter beds being used by hospital departments to grow fruits and vegetables. Some of the produce is also being used to support a food pantry.
Beyond his Eagle project, Jack said some of his favorite Scouting memories involve being outdoors, including a 2023 kayaking trip on the Nissequogue River. He has continued kayaking and now enjoys fishing.
Scouting also has sparked his interest in emergency services. Jack is currently taking an EMT course and hopes to become certified by the end of the year, building on the first aid and emergency preparedness skills he learned through the program.
He also works as a lifeguard at the Valley Stream pool, where he sometimes sees younger Scouts from his troop who now look to him as a mentor.
Jack’s accomplishment also was recognized by Nassau County Legislator Cynthia Nuñez, who presented him with a Nassau County Legislature citation during the Court of Honor ceremony.
“Becoming an Eagle Scout is a recognition of Jack’s dedication, service, and commitment to his community,” Nuñez said. “It shows how the future is in good hands with young leaders like him rising through the ranks.”
