A Lehighton teen who constructed an educational fossil pit at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center received an Eagle Scout badge during a Court of Honor Program Saturday.

Jacob Thomas Hoffner, a member of Boy Scout Troop 82, was honored during the program held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lehighton.Master of ceremonies Bryan Buffington, who received his Eagle Scout pin 20 years ago, said that Hoffner "personifies every point of the Scout law."Hoffner is the son of Brian and Linda Hoffner of Lehighton. He will be attending Lafayette College as an engineering major in a few weeks.The Lehighton Area High School graduate participated in soccer, tennis, was president of the band, was president of the student council and was crowned the homecoming king.Hoffner surprised many people by presenting them with gifts. He gave his mother, grandmother and several other relatives bouquets of flowers. He had special gifts for his father, his scoutmaster and his den mother.When he handed his father a gift, he said, "I cannot thank you enough for all your love and support."Scoutmaster Scot Wingert conducted the presentation of the Eagle badge.Nathan Kroboth led the Eagle Scout charge and issued five obligations, to which Hoffner agreed. They are:• To live with honor.• To be loyal.• Be courageous. "You must have the courage to do what is right."• Serve others.• Have vision.Hoffner related experiences of joining the Cub Scouts and all he learned. He said his highlights came from camping, hiking and backpacking."I found it an escape from the stress of school," he said.He said he felt scouting helped him become a better person.Several presentations were made to Hoffner.Carbon County Commissioners Wayne Nothstein and Thomas J. Gerhard gave him a proclamation from the county. Nothstein said he received his Eagle Scout badge 50 years ago."It's certainly your day, Jacob," Nothstein said. "Thank you for what you're doing for the nature center."He said the fossil pit will be enjoyed by thousands of children for years to come.Officer Robert DeFuso of the Lehighton Police Department, representing the mayor, presented Hoffner with a proclamation from the borough.State Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon, gave Hoffner a citation from the state House of Representatives. Heffley said he got his Eagle Scout badge 30 years ago.Like Hoffner, Heffley also was a member of Cub Pack 145.Dan Kunkle of the nature center, said numerous Eagle Scouts earned their main badges through work at the nature center. He said he has hinted at a fossil pit for a number of years, but because of the size of the project, nobody had agreed to take it on until Hoffner did.He said the fossil pit is 24 feet long, 3 feet wide and 12 inches deep.Not only did Hoffner get the pit built, he also was present when some of the first groups of children came through to use it, and he assisted them, Kunkle said.Lee Becker, president of the Trinity Lutheran Church Council, presented a certificate and a gift to Hoffner from the church council.Shawn Keiser, a Boy Scouts of America representative, also participating in the program.Numerous Boy Scouts also took part in the event.