Mark Banon doesn't think of himself as being special or unique; just your run-of-the-mill teenager, navigating his way through his final year of high school with a plethora of questions concerning his future.

Banon is far too humble to label himself as anything but an average teenager, but he's a long way from being average.

While most teenagers appear to be concerned with things like material possessions, who's dating whom, or how they're going to hit mom and dad up for some extra money for that Friday or Saturday night date, Banon is more concerned about what he can do to make the world a better place.

The senior isn't the only teenager keen on making the world a better place, not by a long shot. Problem is, you seldom hear about those young men and women who are mature enough not to be so self-centered. What you hear about are the bad eggs.

In his second year as the president of Lawton's chapter of Junior Ambucs, the soft spoken Banon gets his high by helping others.

"I'm constantly doing things in a effort to help others," said Banon, who's quick to say there are other Eagles in Junior Ambucs. "There's not a better feeling than helping someone and seeing how they respond.

"There was one case where we built a ramp for person who was confined to a wheel chair and hadn't been out of his house in three years. The joy that he felt getting out of the house, going down that ramp to get his own mail, well, that was a really neat feeling."

Banon's positive outlook on life began at an early age when he joined the Boy Scouts of America. Since the first grade he's been involved with scouting and has worked his way up the ladder to where he is now an Eagle Scout.

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