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For Ari Kohorn of Brunswick, community service has been “a varsity sport,” says an adviser.

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ARI KOHORN

SCHOOL: Brunswick High School

"Art is the language with which I can build community. That's been the center of my community service."

In July, 18-year-old Ari Kohorn will travel to Quito, Ecuador, with three peers and a Spanish teacher from Brunswick High School to serve at the Yachay Wasi Intercultural Community Education Center.

In preparation, the group is making presentations and raising money.

Sometime between now and then, Kohorn will find time to learn Spanish – just another task on his list of things to do, which seems to stretch from here to infinity.

Kohorn, who will enroll at Rhode Island School of Design in the fall, is a super-volunteer. He has logged 640 hours of community service, working mostly on arts- and environment-related programs.

"This kid has made community service his varsity sport," said Rick Wilson, community service coordinator at Brunswick High.

"It kind of has been wreaking havoc with my sleep schedule," Kohorn said. "At the most, I get six hours of sleep a night. Sometimes it's just two or three."

He gives a lot of himself because he believes volunteering is the best way to give back to the community.

"Brunswick is a lovely place, and I want to try to make it better, even though it's already near-perfect," Kohorn said.

It all started with art. Beginning in ninth grade, Kohorn helped to paint a huge mural celebrating Brunswick's sister-city relationship with Trinidad, Cuba. He enjoyed that so much, he decided to volunteer with Community for All Ages, an initiative of Brunswick's People Plus program that builds relationships among generations. He set up workshops where artists taught skills to senior citizens.

His work also extends to the Cathance River Education Alliance and a local retirement home. At school, he has volunteered for the Key Club and painted sets for the theater club.

"Art is the language with which I can build community. That's been the center of my community service," he said.

Staff Writer Bob Keyes can be contacted at 791-6457 or at:

bkeyes@pressherald.com