LAPLACE — Alex Watkins has been part of the Boy Scouts since the first grade.

Watkins, 15, of LaPlace has made it all the way up the ranks from Tiger Cub to Eagle Scout in LaPlace Troop 406.

“I’ve stayed for so long because I’ve grown a lot and learned a plethora of things,” he said. “I like the fact that I can expand myself and learn different things that I couldn’t learn without Scouts. Also a lot of my friends are in the Scouts. I’ve made a lot of friends out of state.”

To become an Eagle Scout, Watkins had to do a number of different things from interviews to a project that benefited others. In order to help get community members reading, Watkins put up “Little Free Libraries” at different locations around St. John the Baptist Parish.

“It’s basically like a mini doll house that is filled with books,” he said. “Children, or really anyone, can go and get books if they please and put books in there if they please. I put one in front of LaPlace Elementary and First United Methodist Church in LaPlace. My mom is a teacher at LaPlace Elementary, and she said that every time she goes to her truck, she sees kids getting books out of it.”

Watkins is dedicated to the Boys Scouts, adding he recently got back from the Scouts camp that he worked at this summer.

“I love Boy Scouts, it’s pretty much my entire life,” he said. “I really like working at the Salmen Scout Reservation. There are 40 people there that I enjoy being around and I love teaching children. I work on the aquatic staff so I get to teach them water actives and water sports, and I love doing that. I love teaching kids skills they might not be able to get at home.”

Watkins was recently awarded the Stephanie Wilking Award for Outstanding Youth of the year from the Rotary Club of LaPlace.

“I got it for all of the different things that I do,” Watkins said. “I do a lot with Boy Scouts. Even if there is another troop that has an Eagle project, I will go and help. I enjoy doing it. I also like helping out in the community.  I like helping the community grow in all different types of ways.”

Community service, to Watkins, means building the community teaching, service or other contributions.

He said more youths should be helping out in their communities.

Van Bordelon, events chairman for Boy Scout Troop 406, said Watkins is a true leader.

“He accomplishes just about everything he sets his mind to,” Bordelon said. “He made Eagle at a young age, 14 going on 15. The object of making Eagle Scout is to be a leader, and there is no question he is a leader. Alex is a leader among the younger Scouts, his peers and even among us adults.”

Bordelon said Watkins does a lot for the community besides Scouting, adding his Eagle project serviced the community at large.

“During the tornado, he and a few friends that live in the area went around helping people pick up debris,” Bordelon said. “Alex is definitely worthy of a community service award.”

Watkins is a rising junior at East St. John High School.