Tyler Cormier would not trade his experiences as a Boy Scout for anything.

"It teaches you to do the best you can do," the 16-year-old Catasauqua High School student said. "It's taught me a lot about the outdoors, helping others and being prepared."

Cormier was recently presented with the Eagle Scout award, which is the highest achievement a Boy Scout can earn. In order to receive it, he completed all six levels of Scouting, completed 13 service project hours, demonstrated leadership in a variety of different positions and earned the 12 required Eagle Scout badges and nine elective badges, totaling 325 different requirements.

An Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony was held Oct. 19 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Catasauqua.

A member of Boy Scout Troop 94, chartered to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, he is the son of Tara (Cormier) Ouellette and the stepson of Richard Ouellette of Catasauqua.

The Allentown Rescue Mission was the recipient of Cormier's Eagle Scout project. He collected donations of backpacks and filled them with personal care products, toiletries, socks and ponchos. The filled backpacks were dropped off to be used by people who rely on the services of the rescue mission to help put their lives back together.

The Allentown Rescue Mission helps the homeless by providing food, emergency shelter and programs to help people in crisis rehabilitate and restore their lives. It has been serving the Lehigh Valley for more than 100 years.

Cormier said his most memorable Scout activity was when he first started to work at Camp Trexler, a Boy Scout camp in Kunkletown.

"At first, I was very nervous, but now I love it and everyone there knows me," he said. "We are like a family."

During the Court of Honor ceremony, held in the sanctuary, Cormier was presented with a proclamation by Catasauqua Borough Council President Brian Bartholomew, a U.S. Marine Corps certificate by his stepfather and a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition by U.S. Congressman Charlie Dent.

Assistant Scoutmaster Phil Fisher told those gathered at the court of honor Cormier embraces the Scouting motto. Achieving Eagle Scout status gives young men a sense of responsibility, he said.

He also talked about how Scouting has taught important values, including honesty, leadership, being a team player, caring for the environment and having self-confidence.

He encouraged Cormier to continue to live by the Scout laws each day, to continue to make a difference in people's lives, to be dedicated in everything that he does and to always strive for something greater. The journey does not end here, he said, challenging the Eagle Scout to take advantage of opportunities and initiatives to reach future goals.

Cormier presented his mother with the Eagle mother's pin, in recognition of her devotion and support during his Scouting career.

In recognition of her son's accomplishment, Tara pinned the Eagle medal to her son's uniform.

In his speech, Cormier credited his mentors and his mom as the most influential people in his life and his years as a Scout.

"They always encouraged me to do my best and continue through the Scouting ranks," he said. "They were there to help me with everything."

Mentor pins were presented to Fisher, Assistant Scoutmaster AJ Renn, charter representative Al Renn, Assistant Scoutmaster Larry Rothrock and to the late Dale Edwards, whose pin was accepted by his widow, Shirley Edwards.

Cormier is a member of the Catasauqua High School football team and attends both CHS and Lehigh Career and Technical Institute in the precision machinery program.

Only 4 percent of all Boy Scouts achieve the rank of Eagle.

Cormier is the 64th Scout from Boy Scout Troop 94 to receive the award.