Surrounded by family, friends, mentors and fellow scouts, Sean Patterson joined an elite brotherhood that includes Oscar-winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg, former U.S. President Gerald Ford, and the first person to set foot on the moon, astronaut Neil Armstrong.

Patterson, a member of Boy Scout Troop 366, advanced to the rank of Eagle Scout during a Court of Honor ceremony held Saturday afternoon at Oxford United Methodist Church.

“It feels great. I’ve worked so hard for this,” he said. “It feels like I can pretty much do anything at this point.”

Patterson is the 38th member of Troop 366 to become an Eagle Scout since 1988.

Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts of America program.

“The wearer of the Eagle award is the epitome of scouting’s best efforts and beliefs,” said Assistant Scout Master Rob Charlton.

A very small percentage of all Boy Scouts earn this coveted award. The first Eagle Scout was named in 1912 and the two-millionth in 2009. Today, more than 50,000 scouts join the Eagle brotherhood annually, according to The National Eagle Scout Association.

To become an Eagle Scout, a young man must reach the rank of Life Scout; serve six months in a position of responsibility with his troop; earn 21 merit badges (a total of 136 are available); and successfully complete a board of review process.

Patterson, who’s been involved in scouting since his days at Clear Lake Elementary School, earned a total of 29 merit badges.

A scout moving along the path to the Eagle rank must also plan, develop and provide leadership for a service project that helps a religious organization, school or community.

For his project, Patterson added a large gaga ball pit to Seymour Lake Township Park in June. Often referred to as “a kinder, gentler version of dodgeball,” gaga ball is a fast-paced game played inside a hexagonal or octagonal enclosure called a pit. The pit that Patterson built is 44 inches tall and has a diameter of approximately 20 feet.

During the ceremony, Assistant Scout Master Steve Patterson (no relation) reminded the newly-minted Eagle Scout that he now serves as “a guide to other scouts” and as “an example in (his) community.”

“Remember that your actions are now a little more conspicuous and people will expect more of you,” he said. “To falter in your responsibility would reflect not only on you, but also on your fellow Eagles and all of scouting. The torch you carry is not only yours, it is also ours.”

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Patterson thanked the leadership of Troop 366 and his parents, Scott and Donica, for all of the help, advice and support they gave him on the path to becoming an Eagle.

Choking back tears, Patterson told his father, “Without you, I wouldn’t be here today. You’re just such a big inspiration to me and I want to be just like you when I grow up.”