Ryan Dahl is anything but your typical high school graduate. This college bound Eagle Scout graduated from Olathe North High School with a perfect GPA, achieved a perfect ACT score, and is a National Merit, U.S. Presidential, and Coca-Cola Scholar. If that weren’t enough, he is also a member of Mensa, plays the violin, and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.
Just recently, Ryan added another accolade to his growing list of honors…a $25,000 National Eagle Scout Association college scholarship. He was selected to receive the 2014 United Health Foundation Scholarship, an academic scholarship that is granted to an individual who plans to pursue a career in the healthcare arena and is willing to reinvest his knowledge and skills in an underserved community.
“The United Health Foundation Scholarship really spoke to me – I want to enter the healthcare field and become a doctor,“ said Dahl. “When I heard I was receiving this scholarship I almost dropped the phone…I was so excited.”
Ryan’s Scouting career flourished as a member of Troop 201, Hillcrest Christian Church, where he earned his Eagle Scout in 2011 as well as 42 merit badges and Gold, Silver, and Bronze Palms. Ryan credits Scouting for helping him become a leader. “Scouting has taught me a lot about leadership. Every step of the way, every leadership position from den chief to patrol leader has taught me something new along the way.”
So what’s next for Ryan? His next journey will begin this fall at Vanderbilt University where he will pursue Pre-Med studies.