Daniel Duncan said being greeted with a chorus of smiles and knowing he makes a difference are the rewards for him.

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Volunteer Daniel Duncan hugs Special Olympics participant Claudia Barrotto as volunteer Lauren Rewis (second from right) congratulates Allison Dallas (center) and Elizabeth Eser at Westside High School. Daniel serves as a mentor at Hephzibah High.

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Rainier Ehrhardt/Staff

Daniel gives a pep talk to Jonathan Brashear before the softball toss event.

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The Hephzibah High School senior volunteers as a buddy mentor for moderately intellectually disabled students, working with them on their communication, reading and math.

"I see them improving every day," he said. "It makes you feel like a better person all around. You're making a difference."

Daniel and 40 other local students will be honored at the inaugural Child Service Awards on March 31 at Julian Smith Casino, said Monique Braswell, who created the awards program. Students at each grade level will receive awards, but one will be honored with the Dr. Mo Award, the highest honor of the night.

"This award is based on your humanitarianism. It's nothing like kids doing things from the goodness of their hearts," Braswell said.

Braswell said her children's volunteer work gave her the idea to honor other students who give back to the community.

Nancy Sladky, a literature teacher at Davidson Fine Arts Magnet High School, said she nominated two of her former students, Jason and Michael Jillella, because they inspired her and others to do more for people in other countries.

The two juniors read the book Three Cups of Tea and wanted to be a part of the philanthropy discussed in the book. The twin brothers began the Pennies for Peace program in January to help raise money to build schools for girls in Pakistan, Sladky said. They have raised about $2,000. It costs about $5,000 to build a school in Pakistan, Sladky said.

"These guys have a genuine concern and compassion for another culture," she said. "They have put in tremendous work, but it's because of their compassion."

Lauren Rewis, a sophomore at Hephzibah High, also volunteers with the moderately intellectually disabled students and tutors her peers. She said being nominated for what she enjoys doing still surprises her.

"It's really just about them for me," she said. "When I see them speaking better than they did at the beginning of the year, it shows me what I'm doing matters."