WATERVILLE — William Jackson of Boy Scout Troop 417 in Waterville received the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest achievement in Scouting, at a special Court of Honor held on Feb. 16 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Washington Street, the Troop’s charter organization. Bishop Devin Croft of the LDS Church, Rep. Thomas R.W. Longstaff, D-Waterville, and Kennebec Valley District Advancement Chairman Charles Mahaleris attended the event.

To earn the Eagle Scout rank, William was required to complete 21 merit badges, hold positions of leadership within the Troop, and to demonstrate leadership skills through planning, organizing, and overseeing a service project for the benefit of the community.

William Jackson, of Waterville, of Boy Scout Troop 417 in Waterville, on the Pine Ridge trail system. Contributed photo

William Jackson, of Waterville, works on a bog bridge in the Pine Ridge trail system for the city of Waterville. It was his Eagle Scout project. Contributed photo

William Jackson, 14, an Eagle Scout, during a special Court of Honor held Feb. 16 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latteray Saints in Waterville. Contributed photo

William’s Eagle project was to build two sections of single-track bog bridge, totaling 60 feet, in the Pine Ridge trail system for the city of Waterville. Bog bridges elevate pedestrian and bicycle traffic above wet sections of trail, helping to protect the environment by reducing erosion caused when people try to avoid walking or riding through wet areas. Several local businesses and organizations made donations to support the project, including: Home Depot, Central Maine New England Mountain Bike Association, Domino’s, Uncle Dean’s, Dairy Queen and Shaw’s.

William is a high honor roll student in eighth grade at Waterville Junior High School, where he is active in theater and the junior high band.

Nationally, only 4 percent of all Boy Scouts earn the Eagle Scout Award. William is the fourth Scout from Troop 417 to have reached the Eagle rank in the past two years.