BRIEFLY : Scouting: Twins Earn Eagle Rank

Two local college students have been named to the Eagle Scout Court of Honor, attaining the highest rank in the Boy Scouts. Santa Monica residents Steven and Gregory Samarge, 18-year-old fraternal twins, have received congratulatory letters from, among others, President and Mrs. Clinton, Mayor Richard Riordan and Gov. Pete Wilson.

The Venice high school graduates attend Santa Monica College; at 6 feet, 285 pounds each, they play center and offensive tackle on the college football team.

The rank of Eagle Scout, an honor received by only 2% to 3% of Boy Scouts, is attained in part by accumulating 21 merit badges, which are awarded to those who demonstrate mastery of various activities and subjects central to Scouting.

“We’re both really excited,” said Steven, the elder twin by 11 seconds. “It’s a great honor. But mainly we did it because our father became an Eagle Scout. We wanted to follow in his footsteps.”