Zachary C. Hepp, 17, of Chapel Hill, has earned the highest advancement award the Boy Scouts of America offers to Scouts, the Eagle Scout Award.
Hepp will be recognized in ceremonies on Oct. 25, at 7:15 p.m. at the New Hope Presbyterian Church.
A member of Troop #449, Hepp is one of approximately 4 percent of all Boy Scouts who attain the Eagle rank, according to Scoutmaster John Doyle.
Each candidate must earn 21 merit badges and successfully complete a community, church, or synagogue-related service project to earn his Eagle; Hepp chose to refurbish an educational nature trail at New Hope Camp & Conference Center. He has served as senior patrol leader and has been in Scouting for 11 years. Hepp 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 the former U.S. Secretary of Education William Bennett.
Hepp is a member of University United Methodist Church and is active in golf and photography at Carrboro High School, where he is a senior.
He is the son of Debbie and Paul Hepp of Chapel Hill.