Garrett Rudolph Smetana, 14, of North Branch, has earned the highest advancement award the Boy Scouts of America offers to Scouts, the Eagle Scout Award.

Smetana was recognized at a Court of Honor on March 31.

A member of Troop 411, Chartered by the North Branch Police Department, Smetana is one of approximately 4 percent of all Boy Scouts who attain the Eagle rank, according to Scoutmaster Todd Maki.

Each candidate must earn 21 merit badges and successfully complete a community, church, or synagogue-related service project to earn his Eagle; Smetana chose to place a veterans' memorial in North Branch's Central Park.

He has served as a Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader, Troop Guide; participated in Grey Wolf National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT); currently on staff at Grey Wolf NYLT; Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow. Smetana joins other outstanding American citizens who have become Eagle Scouts, among them, former President Gerald R. Ford, Jr., astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, cinematographer Steven Spielberg, and former head of the FBI, William Sessions.

Smetana is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in North Branch; is an honor student, and is active in soccer and track at North Branch Middle School, where he is an 8th grader.

He is the son of Scott and Tracy Smetana, North Branch; grandson of Nick and Sherrie Berchin, Ron and Gail Smetana, all of Pine City.