After years of dedication and service, senior Andrew McCaffery rose to the level of Eagle Scout, the highest ranking in the Boy Scouts of America Program.

The ceremony was held on the evening of Jan. 31.

Andrew started his service as an eight-year-old in Webelos Scouts.

Webelos stands for We’ll Be Loyal Scouts and is a young group for boys ages seven to ten.

The purpose is to prepare young boys to become Boy Scouts when they are old enough.

Andrew did this for two years before transferring into the Boy Scouts program at age ten.

Boy Scouts is one of the largest youth organizations in America and is based on six values: mentoring, lifelong learning, faith, service, healthy living, and building character.

The Eagle Scout title is gained through earning 21 or more badges and being responsible for leading and planning a service project.

For his service project Andrew created an organic garden in which he grew a variety of vegetables on the hill adjacent to the Seminar Room.

He tended to the garden weekly and the produce he grew was used for soups that he donated to Transition House, a shelter for homeless families located in downtown Santa Barbara.

Andrew worked on this project in conjunction with his church, All Saints by the Sea, which already was assisting the Transition House.

He organized two soup drives and learned a lot about the challenges of recruiting volunteers.

In addition to his service project, Andrew raised funds through a car wash.

“Being involved with the Boy Scouts has helped create my moral foundation, as well as help unearth and shape my leadership skills,” reflected Andrew on the experience.