Jackson Matthews Riley of Morehead City received his Eagle Scout award on March 29 after the 11 Sunday worship service at First Presbyterian Church in Morehead City. The ceremony was conducted by Boy Scout Troop 283, sponsored by First Presbyterian Church of Morehead City. Jackson entered the Scouting program in September of 1998 as a Tiger Cub in Pack 942 of Sanford, NC. He advanced through Bobcat, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos I and II. While in Sanford, he also earned the Arrow of Light, Cub Scouting’s highest award and the only Cub Scout award that a Boy Scout may wear on his official uniform.

Jackson is the son of John and Terri Riley. His paternal grandparents are Dave and Dink Riley of Morehead City and his maternal grandparents are Harold and Betty Matthews of Rockingham.

In April of 2002, Jackson bridged over to Boy Scout Troop 907 of Sanford and later joined Troop 283 after moving to Morehead City. He progressed through the ranks of Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, 1st Class, Star and Life Scout. As a Boy Scout he earned 25 merit badges, his Totin’ Chip, Paul Bunyan Woodsman Award, God and Country Award, and the Order of the Arrow. In leadership positions with the troop he served as Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Instructor, Chaplain Aide, and Quartermaster.

For his Eagle project Jackson planned and led the installation of a meditation path at the front of First Presbyterian Church in Morehead City. Last summer with the assistance of Suzie Edwards, Director of Children and Student Ministries at First Presbyterian, Jackson was able to schedule groups of Vacation Bible School children to form, design, and decorate stones for the meditation path. With the help of many adult and youth church members, twenty-five children were able to participate. After the stones had hardened sufficiently, several friends and scouts of Troops 283 and 130 met later to assist in the planting of each stone into the ground. Jackson is pleased that his project involved not only the scouts, but so many members of the church.

In December the Croatan Trails District Eagle Board of Review found Jackson worthy of the Eagle Scout Rank.

Jackson is a junior at West Carteret High School where he has played football, tennis, basketball, and track. He is a member of the Future Business Leaders of America and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He has received Academic Achievement Awards, the RBC Centura Scholar Athlete Award for Football and Basketball, and the Good Patriot Award.