Emerson King says he becomes more organized when he’s busy. And that is just the way the 17-year-old senior at Coral Reef Senior High School gets things done.

The teen recently returned from Aquitania, Colombia, where he handed out school supplies to students and teachers. He raised the money for supplies in his “Give Back Your Pack” project by playing guitar for donations and by teaching guitar lessons.

Emerson’s nine-month undertaking also involved gathering 80 friends, through a Facebook page, to show up at the Miami taping of “X-Factor.” For that he received $800. And he appealed to Thrivent Financial for Lutherans for a grant.

All this, right after he finished his Eagle Scout project.

His mother, Adelaida King, said the final delivery of backpacks in August was very emotional. The schools Emerson wanted to help are located near the Laguna de Tota and the community has been deeply affected by the FARC guerilla movement and floods that devastated the potato and onion crops, she said.

“It really was one of the most memorable weeks of our lives. It was a joy watching the kids receive their new backpacks and immediately open them up to see what was inside. Most hugged Emerson,” she said. “The teachers asked when he would return and, who knows? He has a vested interest in these children now.”

Emerson had a great deal of encouragement from his friends and the staff at Coral Reef High where he is in the International Baccalaureate magnet program.

The Pinecrest teen said “Give Back Your Pack” started as an idea last December for kids to donate gently used backpacks, but quickly became more.

“I saw that there was a specific need in Aquitania after the recent floods and I wanted to help,” he said.

Emerson has been playing guitar for about two and a half years.

“I love it. I kind of play it addictively,” he said. He and his friend Danny Dranoff played guitar in the CocoWalk area on several weekend nights where they earned some nice tips. When he finally had enough money he made his purchases, on sale, and packed nine duffel bags with supplies, games and treats for the kids.

In Colombia he visited three schools and gave each child a backpack full of goodies. The teachers each also received a big bag of items to assist them.

Emerson said he is grateful to his friends and all the folks who donated supplies to make “Give Back Your Pack” a success.

“The familial connections definitely contributed to the project’s execution but the fundraising came entirely from the community and my friends,” Emerson said. “They all helped make it possible and I am extremely appreciative for their assistance.”

HISTORY IS ALIVE AT FIU

Back by popular demand, actor Robert Dawson will portray the great astronomer Tycho Brahe at the next Southern Cross Astros program at 8 p.m., Sept. 16 at Florida International University’s Physics Building at the Modesto Maidique Campus in West Miami-Dade.

As a Danish nobleman in the late 1500s, Tycho Brahe created some of the most precise instruments for astronomical observation before the invention of the telescope. Actor Dawson will dress in period costume worn by Danish Royalty and will demonstrate how the famous astronomer explored space on replicas of the handmade devices. Brahe’s assistant astronomer, Johannes Kepler, went on to his own great work — the laws of planetary motion.