Chris Mavrogian is set to embark on an exciting initiative to restore the courtyard pond at Huntington High School. The current junior is pursuing the work as a Boy Scouts Eagle Scout Award project. He plans to commence work this summer.
The Huntington School Board recently accepted a contribution of $800 worth of materials that Mr. Mavrogian intends to utilize for the project. He plans to donate additional items as the work moves forward.
The teenager was recently elected to serve as president of the school-wide student government during the 2019/20 school year. He is currently the Class of 2020 president. He is also a seasoned band and pit orchestra member, among his many other pursuits.
“I want to fix up the pond in the high school lunch courtyard,” Mr. Mavrogian said. “First, rip out any plants that are dead and then trim and plant new perennials native to the area. After that I’ll drain the pond, replace the pump with a solar powered pump and hook it up to the top for a waterfall. The pond will be filled with goldfish, oysters and clams to make a mini ecosystem with lily pads on top. Finally, I’ll mulch the area around the pond and set up long benches composed of recycled plastic for Advanced Placement Environmental Science classes to utilize for educational study opportunities.”
Mr. Mavrogian is a longtime participant in the Boy Scouts program. “I’ve been in Troop 12 since the fifth grade,” he said. “While my dedication to the program definitely lessened when high school began as a result of different activities and how thinly my time has been spread, it’s still something that I hold dear to my heart. It has taught me invaluable lessons about teaching and leading. I think anybody who has stuck through the program for this long could recite hundreds of fun-filled and ridiculous stories that they’ll laugh about for years. It’s really unique.”
Boy Scouts officials, high school science teacher Edward Florea and Mr. Mavrogian’s mother, Maryann have been most helpful and supportive as he has developed and planned the project. “It’s going to be pretty cool,” he said.
Mr. Mavrogian has discussed and coordinated his plans with Huntington High School Principal Brenden Cusack, who have thrown his support behind the teenager.
In addition to the Eagle Scout project, Mr. Mavrogian intends to go to Camp Yawgoog in New Hampshire with the Boy Scouts. He’ll also be working with fellow student government officers to begin planning for homecoming and on other initiatives the group hopes to pursue.
