MIDDLESEX, N.Y. — An Ontario County teenager, striving to make Eagle Scout — the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America, has included a project that paid tribute to his family. 

The most successful projects take a solid plan. As Justin Spelman now knows, they also take a solid team.

A small country cemetery on a Finger Lakes hillside is where Spelman completed his Eagle Scout project.

“We were originally thinking about putting it up there, but just with cars and traffic and allowing room for cars to pull off during funeral processions, we saw this should be a good area,” said Spelman.

The Bloomfield High School sophomore designed a seating area overlooking Overtakers Cemetery in Middlesex. The town where six generations of Spelmans have lived. The cemetery where many of them are buried, including his grandfather.

“Yeah, I was pretty young, but still got some great memories with him so that's awesome," Spelman said.

It’s a family project.  

Justin’s dad Jim was a scout. So was grandfather Steven. Service runs in the family and the scouts.

“I’ve seen very strong leaders come from many of these Eagle Scouts," said Laura Walsh, Eagle Scout project advisor. “It develops a sense of community.”

Before he could build the project, Justin had to get a variance from the town. He assembled the team that helped him and raised all the money himself.

“It's not so much you doing it, it's you guiding it," Spelman said. "And that's really a big part of the Eagle Scout rank, is that guiding and leadership part.”

“This project is just amazing," said Superintendent Andy Doell of the Bloomfield Central School District. "I think it speaks to his maturity, I think it speaks to his, you know, commitment to serving, and we're just so proud of him. This is exactly what you want to see from students."

Spelman says the reaction to his Eagle Scout project has been amazing. As any good leader knows, you can’t do it alone.

“It feels great to give back down here and know that I did a part in helping the community,” Spelman said.

He doesn't just succeed as a scout. Spelman also plays baseball and basketball at Bloomfield and he's on the honor roll as well.