NILES — Noah Vogl said the path to Eagle Scout is long and arduous — Scout’s honor — but it was well worth it.

On Sunday afternoon, Vogl, a junior at Niles High School, was ceremoniously recognized and celebrated as an Eagle Scout of BSA Scouts Troop 579, of Niles, at the Knights of Columbus, 520 Platt St.

With the turning of two screws, Vogl added his name to a few dozen other Troop 579 Eagle Scouts on a plaque. He is now one of about 4 percent of Scouts to have achieves its highest rank.

A series of events took place at the hour-long court of ceremony to recognize that achievement. Vogl, his parents, Dave and Martha, scout leadership and fellow scouts all took part in recognizing Vogl.

The event marked an end of an approximately seven-year journey.

“It changed me as a person for the better, and I don’t know who I’d be without it,” Vogl said.

After starting Cub Scouts a decade ago when he was seven, Vogl moved from Tenderfoot to Second Class to First Class Scout. He led patrol activities, learned survival skills and memorized and practiced the Scout oath and law in everyday life.

“Then, the mountain-climbing begins,” said Scout Noah Podlin, who MC’d the event. “The path is marked with merit badges and leadership responsibilities, service responsibilities and the practices of scouting skills and ideals.”

Troop 579 Scouts read out Vogl’s accomplishments at each rank, they themselves currently holding the rank they spoke about.

Working toward Star Scout, Vogl completed service projects, took on troop leadership positions and learned first aid and environmental skills.

Working toward Life Scout, he continued his service and leadership while earning merit badges in community citizenship and national citizenship.

Working toward Eagle Scout, he garnered a gamut of educational and service-based responsibilities, ranging from entrepreneurship to public speaking to personal fitness.

The capstone of Vogl’s work toward Eagle Scout, at least the most visible to the outsider eye, was a service project he planned, raised funds for and completed.

It was providing a flag and flagpole to Summit Church, 1700 W. River Road, Niles. In the spring, flowers will grow around the stones Vogl placed around it.

“I played at the fields down there for many years, so I wanted to do something there the people at the church could enjoy, the people on the field could enjoy and people could see from the highway,” he said.

Before, those playing on the fields during games did not have a flag to turn to for the National Anthem.

Now, with the project complete and the highest rank in scouting attained, Vogl said a great weight is off his shoulders.

He still plans to come back to Troop 579 to help his peers become Eagle Scouts. He said the trek to the rank can be tough.

“A few years ago, I lost a little bit of interest, and I was like, ‘Do I really want to continue doing this?’” he posited. “You have to look at the bigger goal.”

Scoutmaster Mike Jones said Vogl’s commitment was a testament to a character change he saw in his scout over the past few years.

“He’s grown into being responsible,” he said. “He’s matured in the last couple of years, too. He’s an overall good kid.”