Clifton resident Mike Schmidt, a freshman at Centreville High School, was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout at a Court of Honor on Feb. 8, at the Little Rocky Run Community Center.
The Court of Honor was attended by his parents, Mark and Barbara Schmidt, and his sister, Lauren. Many of Mike's relatives from out of town, as well as numerous friends from the local area, also attended. The ceremony was conducted by Hondo Davids, the Scoutmaster of Troop 893.
Mike Schmidt's Scouting career began in Europe and during the next eight years spanned the United States from the east coast to the west coast. Mike started out in Heidelberg, Germany, in Pack 284 and continued moving through the ranks of Cub Scouting in Pack 155 at Ft. Knox, KY, and Pack 67 at Ft. Irwin, CA.
Highlights of this time included twice winning first place for the pack in the Pinewood Derby and once winning first place in Pinewood Derby for the entire Mojave district in California.
Mike completed his Cub Scout service in Clifton with Pack 1859, where he earned his Arrow of Light award and crossed over to Troop 893.
At Troop 893, Mike joined the Dragon patrol and continued onward and upward for the next four years. Highlights included two troop summer camps in Tennessee and North Carolina, and participation at the National Boy Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia.
Mike was also active as a troop leader, including service as Patrol Leader, Scribe, Quartermaster and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. Mike devoted his time to numerous service projects, culminating with the leadership of his own service project, involving landscaping the Western Fairfax Christian Ministry office building in historic Centreville. Mike's leadership was recognized by his election to the Order of the Arrow, Scouting's honor society of leaders. Mike subsequently started to repay this reward by helping guide and mentor newly elected Order of the Arrow Ordeal candidates and passing on to them the fruits of his own experiences.