Way to Go! Gregory Garrison, Deer Park
Gregory Garrison, with his brother Cole, by the autism awareness mural the scout painted at May Moore Elementary School. Credit: Deer Park School District
A Deer Park student recently combined art and autism awareness in the creation of a mural at May Moore Elementary School.
Gregory Garrison, 18, a Boy Scout and senior at Deer Park High School, led a team of fellow Scouts last month to paint the full-wall mural that highlights autism awareness.
“I decided on this project because I wanted to spread autism awareness and let everyone know that the children in the autism program are an important part of the May Moore family and the community,” Garrison said of the mural.
Garrison’s brother Cole, 7, has been enrolled in the district’s program for students with autism since kindergarten.
The mural features a tree that has puzzle pieces — a symbol used for autism awareness — nestled in its branches. The words “Awareness is growing” are at the top of the artwork.
The mural’s installation was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony late last month. It is located in a hallway next to the classroom for the autism program.
Garrison tackled the artwork as part of his Eagle Scout service project. He was honored for it during the school board’s January meeting.
He is captain of his school’s varsity academic team and president of the Chess Club.
Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.
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