PARIS – Members of South Paris Boy Scout Troop 130 held a ceremony Sunday to honor local scout Andrew Mills, who has recently earned his Eagle Badge at the age of 18. Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable by Boy Scouts, and only four in every 100 Scouts earn the badge.

According to Mills, requirements for the badge state that the Scout must earn 21 merit badges, and serve six months in each of the six Boy Scout ranks. He must also serve in a leadership position within the troop, such as patrol leader or troop guide. It is also necessary that a Scout complete a project that benefits the community.

“I sort of threw together a project with Rev. Mayberry at the First Congregational Church in South Paris,” Mills said. The project was cleaning out the barn of the Haskell House, located next to the church. Mayberry had set up the project for another Scout, who later decided on an alternate project.

“So I got some boys together,” Mills said, “and led that to a pretty good success.”

Mills said the experience of completing the requirements has given him a chance to look into activities he wouldn’t usually participate in.

“Looking at my merit badge sash, I would never have done motor boating, or rifle and shotgun shooting,” he said. “I never would have had all those experiences if I hadn’t joined Scouts.”

One merit badge in particular, photography, was one which Mills said motivated him to learn more. As a result of earning the badge, Mills decided to take classes on the subject at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.

The ceremony itself, held outdoors at Bryant Pond, consisted of a small gathering of Scouts, and was presided over by Troop Committee Chairman Frank Daggett, who read the invocation, as well as informed public officials of Mills’ achievement. It was, according to Daggett, “a chance to publicly recognize the Eagle Scout for what he’s done.”

Mills received congratulations from a variety of public figures, including Gov. John Baldacci, and Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins. Congratulations from overseas also reached Mills in the form of letters from England’s Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, and from Buckingham Palace.

According to Daggett, however, Mills is “modest about his achievements,” and continues to be an “adult leader.”