Christopher Anthony Santore Jr., a son of Kathy and Chris Santore Sr. of Nesquehoning, became an Eagle Scout on Saturday during a ceremony at St. Francis of Assisi Church in the borough.

Christopher, a member of Troop 744, joined the Cub Scouts in 2006 and the Boy Scouts in 2010. He's in the 10th grade at Panther Valley High School and is active in football and track. Christopher plans to study biotechnology or hydrology in college.He is also a member of the Nesquehoning Conservation Club, and that's how his Eagle Scout project came about.He built three concrete and wood benches, and seven fish habitats in the club's nature park pond in the Hauto Estates section of the borough. Christopher put in 130 hours of work on the project. The fish habitats, called porcupine boxes, were finished in January 2014, and the benches in May 2014.Christopher chose the project to recognize the importance of nature in peoples' lives, and to make people more aware of the nature park.Following the ceremony, Carbon County commissioners Wayne Nothstein, William O'Gurek and Thomas Gerhard presented Christopher with a resolution, and state Rep. Doyle Heffley presented him with a citation from the House of Representatives.Borough Council President David Hawk also presented him with a resolution, and Mayor Sam Kitchko, who was unable to attend the ceremony, declared April 11 as Christopher Santore Day in the borough.