Joseph Hamilton, middle, was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout on Sunday. Submitted photo

Joseph Hamilton, a senior at Edwardsburg High School, received his Eagle Scout Award during a ceremony Sunday at Smith’s Chapel on Redfield Road in Niles.

On the way to becoming an Eagle Scout, Hamilton earned 24 merit badges and served Boy Scout Troop 579 in a variety of leadership roles, including junior assistant scout master.

Hamilton, 18, completed his Eagle Scout Project at Smith’s Chapel, where he built an 8-foot-by-8-foot gazebo behind the chapel. The gazebo features a shingled roof, limestone flooring and the ability to hang plants on each of its four corners for special occasions.

Hamilton said he chose Smith’s Chapel because he knew it could use some help.

“I thought I could put something up for them to make it more attractive, get a little bit more funds flowing through there,” he said.

Hamilton began working on the gazebo last summer.

“We had to get the materials and bit by bit we put it up,” he said. “Thankfully we have a carpenter in our troop, which was very helpful because I am not a carpenter.”

An Eagle Scout project can be any project that takes 100 hours to build and benefits the community in some way.

Hamilton has been very involved in Boy Scouts since joining three years ago.

He led and taught younger scouts on camp outs, and taught Cub Scouts first aid.

He is also a member of the Boy Scout Order of the Arrow.

“Boy Scouts is beneficial in so many ways. It teaches you skills you can use at all times of your life — first aid skills, cooking skills — all of it helps you become a better citizen,” he said. “I am all about bettering myself and I saw (Boy Scouts) as a great opportunity to do that.”

Hamilton said he would be joining the U.S. Marines Corps in October. He plans on becoming a paramedic. He is the son of Janet Hamilton and Scott Hamilton.

Troop 579 is based at St. Mary’s Church in Niles.