BANGOR – Benjamin Bustard, a member of the Royal Rangers since 1993, has been awarded the Gold Medal of Achievement.

Similar to achieving the rank of Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts, Bustard, 16, had to complete a community project, earn 16 merit badges and write a 500-word essay in order to qualify for the award.

Bustard is the son of Pearl and Ken Bustard of Bucksport. He attends Bucksport High School and is involved with the outdoors club and volunteers as a Big Brother.

Royal Rangers is a faith-based scouting group that teaches boys leadership skills through mentoring and moral examples from adult leaders. It is sponsored by the First Assembly of God. Bustard’s community project was organizing a BB gun marksmanship event at the Royal Rangers’ yearly powwow. He was presented with the medal at a ceremony Saturday at the First Assembly of God in Bangor.

In addition to receiving the Gold Medal of Achievement, Bustard also has received the Commander’s Cup, which is given once a year to one boy in the district, which comprises the states of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, for outstanding achievements.

He has held the position of patrol leader, overseeing eight boys who do service-based activities and is now a junior commander, which is a mentoring position for boys in grades three to five.