To reach this goal, Sean had to master basic scouting skills in such diverse areas as first aid, map and compass, knots and lashings, navigation, physical fitness and more. He then had to pass at least twenty one examinations for merit badges, which are in-depth courses in required and elective topics such as medicine, law, first aid, environmental science, camping, lifesaving, and communications. There are about 120 different merit badges, and it is reported that nearly ten percent of all Boy Scouts enter a career to which they were introduced by the merit badge program.
Every Eagle Scout candidate is also expected to hold leadership positions and show proficiency at planning and delegation, to ensure that teamwork is used to complete major tasks. Leadership is not an easy skill for teenagers to master, because their peers often don’t see them as leaders, but merely as friends. Sean, however, showed extraordinary leadership -- serving in the positions of Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster throughout his four year membership in the Troop.
Sean was also required to perform a major community service project -- which differs in character from many of the high school requirements for service. The Scouting requirement is not for mere participation, but for project planning and the management of others. This way, leadership skills learned through the program can be put to use to benefit the community. Sean planned, delegated duties, and managed a project by which the fire safety equipment in his synagogue (Shelter Rock Jewish Center) religious school were inspected and brought up to date, and where fire safety instruction was given to the religious school faculty and administration to ensure they were competent in the skills needed to operate the extinguishers in case of emergency. Prior to the project’s completion, one of the Troop’s adult leaders noted, “Fire extinguishers are in every public building – but how many people can use them correctly? Properly used, they’re our fist weapon in containing a fire which could destroy valuable property or take human life.”
Sean will attend Brown University in the fall, and plans to attend medical school. Sean earned many honors in high school including: the Bauch & Lomb Science Award, the Sylvia Fleischman / Henry Jacobs Memorial Scholarship for Excellence in Science, the State Bank of Long Island Ron Theim Memorial Scholarship for Excellence in Business, the Honors Research Award, and others. Kotkin also received the Excellence in Service Award for his volunteer service at North Shore Hospital, and was selected from literally hundreds of candidates, nominated by Long Island Science Department Chairpersons, as one of eight participants in the noted “Partners for the Future” program at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories. www.cshl.edu/public/partners.html He somehow finds time to hold a job at local booksellers.
Sean is the oldest son of Nancy and Dr. Irvin Kotkin of Searingtown. Sean’s younger brother William is now 14 and holds the rank of Star Scout in the troop. He also aspires to earn Scouting’s highest rank.
Troop 267 is a nondenominational Boy Scout Troop sponsored by Temple Beth Sholom in Roslyn Heights. The troop meets weekly, goes camping once each month, and stresses leadership and self-reliance. For information, please call Steven Cahn at 516-621-3890. |
