Whiz Kid: New Eagle Scout Entering Senior Year at Mt. Sinai High

Whiz Kid: David Yonks - Age 17

School: Mount Sinai High School - 12th Grade

Accomplishments: David will have taken five Advanced Placement (AP) courses and three honors courses before he graduates from Mount Sinai High School. He has been on the Honor Roll, Superintendent's List, Principal's List and Student of the Month in Mathematics as a result of his academic achievements and is also a member of the National Honor Society. David has played the clarinet and the alto saxophone in the concert and symphonic concert bands and had participated in the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) competition.

As a member of the Junior Varsity football team in 9th and 10th grades, he played on the line, both defense and offense.  As an 11th-grader he was a member of the cross country, winter track and spring track teams, competing in the 4 x 100 relay, shot put and discus events.  He was the recipient of the Scholar Athlete Award.

In scouting since the first grade, David recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest honor that a Boy Scout can achieve. As a member of Troop 204, he has held every leadership position and was elected by his troop to the Order of the Arrow, awarded to the scout who best exemplifies the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives.

He has participated in many volunteer activities with his troop, including beach and pond cleanups, annual Memorial Day flag placement at Calverton National Cemetary and assisting other scouts with their Eagle projects. David's Eagle project consisted of making repairs, priming and painting the exterior of the historic train at the corner of Route 347 and Route 112.  The train is the current home of the North Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce.

David currently works as a pump-out boat operator for the Town of Brookhaven Harbormaster and would like to attend the US Merchant Marine Academy or SUNY Maritime with the goal of becoming a Merchant Marine.