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Eagle Scout project aids school for autism

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Mark Reyes, a recent graduate of Kennedy High School in Bellmore, already knew that he wanted to help brighten one special building when he prepared for his Eagle Scout project with Troop 225 last month.

Reyes, along with fellow troop members, set out to construct four picnic tables at the ELIJA (Empowering Long Island’s Journey through Autism) School in Levittown. “The ELIJA School has a lot of outdoor space, but doesn’t have a ton of funding to utilize it,” Reyes, of Merrick, said. “I wanted to give them something that would be useful and sort of luxurious in a sense.”

Reyes researched the school extensively. When visiting the grounds, he said he realized that the children there enjoyed the outdoors but didn’t have many chances to sit and enjoy it. “I felt it would be great for the kids and staff to enjoy the beautiful weather and enjoy their meals outside,” he said.


Founded in 2002, the non-profit ELIJA Foundation provides children with autism with an array of educational opportunities. The ELIJA School opened in 2006, and welcomes any child who is on the autism spectrum.

Reyes said that the school embodies all of the qualities that he believes an Eagle Scout should possess: compassion, dedication and selflessness.

He also wanted to raise awareness of the school and let community members know about its accomplishments and services. “The ELIJA School is truly a wonderful place,” he said. “Picking the path to have a job caring for those children really takes an amazing person. They are all very hardworking and amazing individuals, and I felt they deserved it.”

“We are always excited and appreciative to receive support from the community,” Monica Howard, the school’s associate executive director, said. “The benches were a fantastic complement to our new garden at the ELIJA School. We are grateful for the time and energy provided to the ELIJA School by Mark and his troop.”

The path to becoming an Eagle Scout has been rewarding and humbling for Reyes. He joined the Boy Scouts when he was 12 years old after developing an interest in camping and community service. “The Boy Scouts perfectly suited those two things,” he said. “The qualities, projects, trips, and wonderful kids and adults involved kept me interested. As I began to lead the troop, I tried to give to younger kids the same interest I had in it. It is truly a great organization, and probably one of the best things I have done for myself.”

Reyes’s community work was recently recognized when he received the Franklin M. Soling Memorial Scholarship Award from the South Merrick Community Civic Association earlier this month. Association President Joe Baker said that Reyes was the perfect candidate for the scholarship because of his Eagle Scout project. “Ambitious, responsible and self-disciplined are all words to best describe Mark Reyes,” Baker said. “This example of unselfishness and thoughtfulness brings hope that the youth of today will be the model citizens of tomorrow.”

And that’s what Reyes said he hopes to convey.

“Being an Eagle Scout, to me, is simply being the best person you can be under any situation,” he said. “You should not do the right thing or help others so that you get publicity for it, but because it is honorable and the right thing to do.

“I did not expect to receive any recognition for this project,” he added. “To see people go out of their way to recognize young people trying to make a difference is really something special.”

Although scouting keeps Reyes busy with community work, he finds time to explore other interests. “For many years I worked teaching at a martial arts school — Tiger Schulman’s Mixed Martial Arts in Rockville Centre — where I recently achieved my black belt,” he said. “I love camping, skateboarding and hiking too.”

Reyes said he plans to pursue art in the future. “I was born in Brooklyn, moved to Long Island, and will now move back to Brooklyn in the fall to attend the Pratt Institute,” he said. “Photography is one of my passions, and that is what I will be studying, along with film, at Pratt starting this fall.”