East Senior Earns Eagle Scout Honor

Jonathan Chan, a senior at Sachem High School East, became an Eagle Scout last year. His Eagle Scout Court of Honor was held on March 23 at Waverly Avenue Elementary School in Holtsville, N.Y.

Family members, friends and fellow scouts attended the ceremony which Chan was honored by presentations and proclamations from Sen. Lee Zeldin, Suffolk County Legis. Robert Calarco, Assemblyman Al Graf, Suffolk County Police Lt. Bafundo, Suffolk County Boy Scout Council – Trailblazer District Advancement Committee Peter Scavo and Chief Robert Pearo of the Holtsville Fire Department.

Other presentations and proclamations were received from offices of Brookhaven Town Supervisor, Mark Lesko, County Treasurer Angie Carpenter, NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo, US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, National Aeronautics and Space Administrator Charles Bolden, and the President of the United States and Mrs. Obama.

Rep. Timothy Bishop arranged for a flag to be flown over the Capital in Jonathan’s honor on January 24. The flag was sent over as a remembrance of this special honor, which was displayed at the ceremony.

Chan’s Eagle Scout project was dedicated to the Lake House. Under his leadership, he and scouts from Troop 100 constructed a wooden fence along the side of the building and built two child-size picnic tables for the children to use. His project will provide seating and keep the children safe while they live there temporarily.

In addition to Scouting, he is a member of the National Honor Society, National Business & Marketing Honor Society, National History Honor Society and participates in the History Club and DECA, and is a member of the Varsity Boys Swim Team and Varsity Boys Tennis Team. Jonathan also gives back to the community by volunteering as a Junior Firefighter with the Holtsville Fire Department.

Chan is in the top 15 percent of his graduating class at Sachem East of about 600 students. He is planning to major in international business and marketing in college.