This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Whiz Kid: Bob Brown

Amity High School class president will be honored as an Eagle Scout this Saturday afternoon

One never knows where Bob Brown is going to turn up, but one thing we can be sure of is he'll have a smile on his face. The president of Amity Senior High School's Class of 2011, he's often spotted with former U.S. Presidents and local politicians. He's got politics in his blood and he lives to volunteer.

"I think that community service is a phenomenal way to experience and learn about the world around you," he explains. "While volunteering, I have learned, and continue to learn, about the world around me in ways many of my peers have not."

For example, while volunteering on Senator Blumenthal's campaign last year, he had the opportunity to meet both Presidents Obama and Clinton. 

Find out what's happening in Bethwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I also have learned our local history, culture, and people through volunteering at various town events," he says. 

In 1998, as a young boy, Bob joined the Cub Scouts, grew to become a Boy Scout and is now an Eagle Scout who earned brotherhood rank last fall. He has worked as a staff member at the Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Jamboree at Fort AP Hill, Virginia.

Find out what's happening in Bethwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This Saturday, Bob will be publicly recognized during an Eagle Scout Court of Honor. He notes that earning the rank of Eagle is the pinnacle of  a Scout's career.

In order to earn the rank, the scout must earn 21 merit badges, complete a leadership service project, and pass a board of review. This is in addition to years of work the Scout puts in to move through the six other ranks.

"My project was the creation of the first part of the Racebrook Tract Arboretum in cooperation with the Orange Tree Committee. To complete the project, I worked with scouts to remove dead trees and invasive species of plants. Then, we planted 13 new trees," Bob says.

He'd love if Patch readers would like to attend the ceremony, which is being held at the Holy Infant Church Guild Hall (450 Racebrook Road, Orange) at 3:30pm on Saturday, April 9.

Saturday's event is just one of Bob's many achievements and accomplishments. In eighth grade, Bob was given the Certificate of Excellence from the Connecticut Association for Public School Superintendent’s Award.

Part musician, part politician, Bob played viola for five years in the Amity Regional School District Strings Ensemble. Since 2007, he has served as chairman of the Principal’s Committee, Cafeteria Committee, Homecoming Dance Committee and Amity District Policy Input Committee. He is senior class president and prior to that was Corresponding Secretary to the Amity Student Government. He serves as Student Representative to the Amity Regional Board of Education and on the District Steering Committee for Education and Instruction. Last year, he was the student government representative on the Amity High School Haitian Earthquake Relief Team.

He also is a young man after our own heart: he likes to write and has worked as a news columnist for the  Amity Trident and he occasionally writes for Orange and Bethwood Patch sites.

He’s involved with 4-H where he serves as vice president of the Pacesetters 4-H Club. He was the 2009 delegate to the Citizenship Washington Focus Conference, and has worked with Gayle Slossberg, Paul Davis, Mitch Goldblatt, and as Youth Services Advisory Representative for the Town of Orange.

Bob also holds paid positions as the Town of Orange Youth Services Department Program Aide, Orange Patch Freelance Reporter and as a Web and Graphic designer for several local businesses.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?