2007 Young Achievers

Kid learned about service from grandfather

Fourteen-year-old Simon Clark has finished another school year filled with a wide variety of community service projects. And he will be doing more of the same during the coming summer vacation.

The 8th grader from Hixson Middle School in Webster Groves said he learned about service to others from his grandfather. Simon said, "He did lots of service to the community and he was so happy. I thought I should do what he did."

Simon's extensive community service along with exceptional academic achievements helped earn him one of 10 2007 Gateway Young Achiever awards. The award includes a $1,000 savings bond and a chance to compete in a national YA competition.

(Young Saint Louis.com carried a story about the 2007 winners in the May edition. To read that story, click here. Each month through the end of 2007, YSL.com will run individual profiles about the seven elementary and middle school winners.)

In June, Simon will be a camp counselor for the National Youth Leadership Training program. The month-long session is at the SBarS Boy Scout Camp in southern Missouri.

He said his participation at an earlier NYLT camp was his best Boy Scout experience. "I really liked the outdoor activities and the lessons in leadership at the camp," he said.

He's also been accepted already as a counselor at the Kendrick-Glennon camp for the summer of 2008. He has participated in that camp for three years.

Simon is the senior patrol leader of his Troop 300. He achieved that top position by a vote of the 80-member troop at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

He is now a Life Scout and hopes to finish his qualifications for Eagle Scout by mid-July.

He's also received certification in both life saving and first aid.

But, his service projects include more than scouts.

He said his favorite volunteer experience has been his work at the St. Louis Food Pantry. "When I fill the orders, I think about where each of the food packages is going," he said.

He also volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul Society and the St. Augustine food pantries.

He has been active in Hixson School service projects. One involved building a small pond on the school grounds. Teachers use the pond for earth science experiments.

The pond is stocked with fish from the Missouri Department of Conservation and landscaped with plants from the Missouri Botanical Garden. "Most of the fish and plants are native to Missouri," he said.

As part of the ongoing maintenance of the school grounds, Simon has donated hours to the Webster Groves "Make a Difference Day." The service hours are spent on outside beautification, including around the school.

Also, at school, he's been the school ambassador for the Ronald McDonald House. Hixson students save tabs from soda cans and bottles. The tabs earn money for the charity that provides lodging for family members visiting children in local hospitals.

He has been active in service to his Annunciation Catholic Church. He's been an altar boy at the local church and also serves as a server at the downtown St. Louis Cathedral Basilica. The Basilica is the home church for the Archbishop of St. Louis.

All the service work hasn't diminished his academic achievements. In addition to a 4.0 grade point average, Simon is taking advance classes in math and German.

Also, later this summer, he will take advance classes at Saint Louis University High in English and computers. "I need to take those courses to free up time so I can be in band for the whole school year," he said.

Simon was a nominee for the All-Suburban Band. He played the tenor sax in middle school but plans to change to the tuba in high school.

He also plans to make a shift in sports between middle and high school. In middle school, he was a linebacker on the Hixson Junior Statesmen football team. The team won the district championship during the last season.

"In high school, I'm planning to go out for cross-country," he said.

Asked about his choice of German as an elective, Simon said he has a special goal in mind. "When I turn 16, I'm going on a trip to Germany with my dad (Martin)," he said.

He said he plans to visit some of the gigantic old churches there. "Also, I'm interested in the history of the country. I'd like to know more about how Hitler was able to sway so many people," he said.

He's already picked his college (Notre Dame) and his major (pre-med). He wants to go on to become a pediatrician.