James Brent Box received his Eagle Scout badges during a ceremony recently at Rome’s First United Methodist Church.

He is a member of Troop 113 that is sponsored by the church.

To receive the honor, Scouts must earn 21 merit badges, serve actively in a troop leadership posi-tion for a period of six months after becoming a Life Scout, perform a community service project and appear before a board of review.

Box said his project involved working at the Rome-Floyd YMCA’s Grizzard Park.

“I built a pair of sandboxes in the children’s area at the park,” Box said. “I worked with Scott McCrelless, and he had some specific ideas in mind about what kind they wanted. I wound up creat-ing a pair of 4-by-8-foot boxes that are a little off the ground and can be covered up.

“There were a lot of things to consider including a surface that wouldn’t splinter, how to provide drainage and making a safe top for it,” he added. “It was pretty neat when we were done because some kids came up and played in them right away.”

He said the Eagle Scout Award means a lot to him because of what it represents.

“It’s pretty special because of the amount of time and work you put into it,” Box said. “Scouting is a really great experience and it helps you grow up a lot.”

Box graduated from Calhoun High School and now attends the University of Georgia. While at Calhoun High, he was an outstanding cross-country runner and track and field participant. Box lettered all four years while in high school and qualified for the state meet. He said he plans to major in biological engineering at Georgia.

He has been active in the Order of the Arrow, and attended Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. He is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Brent Box.