An Eagle Scout Court of Honor was held April 2 welcoming Matthew Gregory Eckhart, son of Blaine and Susan Eckhart of Lehighton, into the ranks of those holding the most prestigious honor in Boy Scouts.

The Eagle Scout Award is Scouting’s highest honor, achieved by only 5 percent of Boy Scouts throughout the world. It is a performance based award, requiring scouts to hone leadership, service and outdoor skills. As they work toward that highest award, Scouts must prove their proficiency in many areas as they advance through the ranks — Scout rank, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle. Advancement means passing specific tests organized by requirements and merit badges.Eckhart is a member of Boy Scout Troop 82 of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lehighton. He joined the troop in 2010 after spending four years as a member of Cub Scout Pack 145.His Eagle project included constructing and installing a series of signs along the LNE and Three Ponds Trail at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center, including a large trailhead sign at the western end of the LNE line and smaller signs along both trails. The smaller signs highlight the sensitive habitat along the trails.All of the signs are constructed of either steel or aluminum with clear, shatterproof cases to help them last through the demanding weather conditions on the mountain as well as to deter vandalism.Through his years in Scouting, Eckhart has earned the archery, athletics, basketry, camping, canoeing, citizenship in the community, citizenship in the nation, citizenship in the world, communications, cooking, emergency preparedness, environmental science, family life, first aid, leatherwork, personal fitness, personal management, rifle shooting, robotics, rowing, shotgun shooting, swimming and wood carving merit badges.A senior student at Lehighton Area High School, Eckhart is an active member of the National Honor Society, the Future Business Leaders of America, National Art Honor Society, Science Olympiad and Scholastic Scrimmage teams, National Art Honor Society and the PALs elementary mentoring program. He has consistently been in the top 10 percent of his class during his high school years.The grandson of Lamont and Faye Dotter of Lehighton, Arlene Eckhart of Jim Thorpe and the late Ted Eckhart is already working on his future plans, having been awarded early acceptance into the mechanical engineering program at Lafayette College.