ORANGE BEACH – One of the first things you notice about Basch Jernigan is the happy light in his eyes.

The second is the song in his heart. This budding musician, scholar and community volunteer has worked to spread that happiness and the song by being involved in Pleasure Island in a variety of ways.

Jernigan, a member of the 2012 Gulf Shores High School graduating class, was recently honored by the Alabama Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce’s Island Spirit award. He is the first teen to receive the award.

Usually it is given to someone on the island involved somehow in the service industries that go above and beyond to bring a special spirit to their jobs. Jernigan and his bandmates in Katawompus play gigs in local clubs. Jernigan is the lead guitarist and singer and is joined by Ayden Closson and Harrison Butler on bass and drums.

Jernigan has written columns and stories for both The Islander and Gulf Coast Newspapers’ magazine, Beachin’.

At the chamber’s recent “Learning for Life: See for Yourself” event, Jernigan had no idea he was about to be presented with the award.

“It was a complete surprise,” he said. “My mom told me something was going to happen that day, but I certainly did not know it would be that. My parents were both there. It was pretty cool. It was a pleasant surprise, that’s for sure.”

Jernigan said he believed it was an award not just for him, but for all of the students and faculty at the school.

“I’m very, very honored to be representing our school this way,” he said. “Honestly know so many kids at our school that contribute so much to the school and have spent so much of their time helping our school and our community, too, that honestly this award does not go just to me, it goes to our entire school.”

Jernigan’s social studies and history teacher for the past four years, Amoreena Brewton, nominated him for the award in a glowing 500-word letter to the nominating committee.

“He is the ideal candidate for this award for he represents the best of what the Gulf Coast schools and communities can produce,” Brewton wrote. “He is truly an ideal student-citizen with equal parts intellect, creativity, service, and idealism.”

Jernigan is a member of several clubs at Gulf Shores, many of them related to protecting and preserving the environment.

“He was and still is instrumental in planning, implementing, and following thru on projects and events,” Brewton wrote. “He has done small things like play music at our Earth Day event to big things like plan an entire field trip with a personal tour given by the director of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. This past summer and fall he was invited to work with Philippe Cousteau and Earth Echo to develop a citizen-journalist program.”

Other projects Brewton noted included volunteering on Arbor Day, helping with E-cycling day where the public can turn in old electronics to be recycled.

Brewton also lauded one of Jernigan’s class projects designed to bring music to patients facing long hospital stays.

“He is currently working to make what started out as a class project into a reality with an organization he created called Musicians for Wellness,” Brewton wrote. “The concept is to use the power of music to entertain and rejuvenate patients, especially children, in long-term hospital care. Basch’s band has already organized an event at a local hospital, but his goal is to make this a nationwide program.”

Music has been an important part of many of Jernigan’s project. Katawompus was selected last year through a competition to play at the 2011 Hangout Music Fest. Principal Ernie Rosado says Jernigan and his bandmates are always ready to play when called upon.

“When I need help at the school for a function I ask him ‘hey, Basch, can y’all play,’” Rosado said. “I had all the cities come in for a lunch, an appreciation lunch. We had him playing outside with his band just entertaining the folks.

“He’s a great role model for other kids, does his work and is great in his work.”

In the past few months, Jernigan and bandmates have been playing dates in clubs around Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

“You hear people talking about their jobs and they can’t believe they are getting paid for it?” Jernigan said. “This is the same way. I love doing that as a job.”

When he packs up and heads to Tulane University to study environmental studies, he won’t leave the music or his bandmates behind.

“They helped me out with a good scholarship and I cannot wait,” he said. “I’m so happy. New Orleans is just an incredible place. I can’t wait to be there.

“I’m excited about school, but the only thing I can think about is music.”