Noah Sherburne is one of the top 10 students in his graduating class at Boothbay Region High School this year. He'll be attending the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston in the fall to study his passion, architecture.

Another passion of Sherburne's is Boy Scouts. In February, he earned his Eagle Scout merit badge — the highest rank attainable.

To achieve that badge, a scout must have earned several merit badges, each one specific to a certain skill, trade, or topic. He must hold leadership positions, and complete a project worthy of the rank of Eagle Scout. Sherburne's project was the conception, design and building of an outdoor classroom at Southport Central School. It consists of a large whiteboard and six benches.

“I had to do a community project that demonstrated that I have leadership abilities,” he said.

The design phase of the project began in late October and was finished in early December. Sherburne said he was assisted in the design by the Knickerbocker Group, where he has held an apprenticeship throughout his senior year.

The initial design called for concrete pillars to be set into the ground, but when Sherburne and his father, Bill Sherburne, went to the site to dig holes for them, they discovered the ground was too wet. They changed plans and elevated the whiteboard between trees.

All of the materials used were high-quality, according to Sherburne. “I got a lot of help from Hammond Lumber with material recommendations, and Knickerbocker Group donated all the supplies. All I had to do was the work putting it all together.”

Sherburne began the building phase in mid-December and finished on Jan. 15. Most of the wood cutting and construction of the whiteboard took place in the shop at the high school, with a lot of help from teacher Chip Schwehm and Sherburne's father. “Mr. Schwehm was a big factor in helping me get the project done. He helped with the building and taught me how to use some power tools. He offered a lot of help with the design as well.

“Mr. Schwehm, my dad, Dimitry Gosselin and Draco Peaslee (both seniors) helped with the installation, and my Boy Scout troop helped in the building of the four “kid size” benches and two higher ones for adults.”

After completing all the physical work Jan. 15, Sherburne appeared before a panel of leaders from his troop and council members for a Board of Review. “It's basically like a job interview. They ask how your project has been beneficial, why obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout is important to you, and what changes you'd make to the program if you could. It’s like a test to determine whether you deserve the rank.

“Doing the project taught me a lot about leadership and time management, and it gave me a lot of woodworking skills and helped me with the design process.”

Sherburne said he'd like to continue with a career in the Boy Scouts, as a troop leader. He is taking a training course now to that end. “Once I finish that I'll be able to be a scout master of a troop.

“Since I'm 18 now I can't earn any more merit badges, or do anything else other than be a leader. It will be my final step in the program.”