DOVER — Following in his brother's footsteps while blazing a trail of his own, a local teenager officially took on the responsibility of being an Eagle Scout Sunday afternoon.

Sam Cheney, 17, a junior at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Dover, received his Eagle Scout badge, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts, during a Court of Honor ceremony at St. Joseph Church, which was hosted by Troop 358 in Barrington.

He said personal management was his favorite merit badge and by far, the most rewarding, of the required 21 he earned on his way to Eagle Scout, since it taught him about managing finances.

“It takes 13 weeks to complete, but it took me over a year to do,” Sam said, adding he learned more from the badge than he expected.

He also earned the computer merit badge, which was interesting since he wants to study game development & design or gaming simulation & robotics at Daniel Webster College. He added he intends to apply to the school next year.

“Gone is the body of a child and the ignorance that follows,” Sam said after he thanked all of the people who helped him earn Eagle rank over the years, including his neighbors, fellow Scouts and his family members.

Sam's brother, James, 20, recalled when he earned Eagle Scout during a ceremony in the same church last year.

“I remember the humility I felt,” James said. “I think that's what Sam's going through.”

With the rank and recognition, Eagle Scout comes with great responsibility, James said

“Since the day I got Eagle Scout, I was holding my head higher,” James said, adding it stood out on his resume, which helped him get a job as a Licensed Nurse Assistant at Portsmouth Regional Hospital

After a year at Great Bay Community College, James plans to study pre-med at the University of New Hampshire this fall in hopes of becoming a general practitioner.

Ovide Lamontagne, who plans to file his candidacy for governor this month, said he was honored to speak at Sam's Court of Honor, since he did the same for James when he earned Eagle rank. Lamontagne served as past president of the Daniel Webster Council and was named their New Hampshire Distinguished Citizen of the Year in 2009.

“Today is truly a community celebration,” Lamontagne said, adding the Eagle rank is a recognition that lasts an entire lifetime.

Lamontagne said this marks the beginning of service and Sam, like all Eagle Scouts, must take on the mantle of “servant-leadership” to put the well-being of others before your own.

“Character is virtue in action,” Lamontagne said, adding there is a great need of individuals of character in America.

Fred Hochgraf, 79, who earned his Eagle award more than 60 years ago, was honored to present the badge to Sam and remind him that he will have to carry the responsibility of the rank for the rest of his life.

“Right away, my life was changed before my eyes,” Hochgraf said, adding he was expected to serve as a leader in the community.

Hochgraf, who is often the “oldest Scout in the room,” is proud to provide the Eagle charge to another young Scout.

“These are some of the best boys in America,” Hochgraf said.

Scoutmaster Matt Taylor recalled how Scouts often get turned around — whether it's on a hike through the woods or in life — but the program teaches them how to find their way, either with a compass or their character.

“Not every young man, nor even every Scout, achieves the rank of Eagle Scout,” Taylor said.

During the ceremony, James recalled how only one out of every four boys in America becomes a Scout and only 1 percent of Scouts rise to the rank of Eagle. Nonetheless, many boys have fond memories and gain valuable skills from the experience, regardless of their rank or the number of merit badges they received.

Michael Zarenski, a gas operations specialist for Waste Management, thanked Sam for all the good that came from his Eagle project, which involved renovating two miles of trails, repairing two bridges and installing trail markers and sign at Waste Management's Gonic Trails at Mount Isinglas Recreational Area in Rochester.

While the project took more than 200 hours to complete — twice as much as is required to earn Eagle Scout — it was well done and finished in a timely manner, Zarenski said.

“You were clearly up to the task,” Zarenski said, adding many people expressed gratitude for how the project improved the trail system in southern Rochester.

Catherine Cheney, a city councilor and county commissioner, said she is proud of both her sons.

“It's a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Cheney said.