Communities In Schools Alum Mordecai Scott Recognized Among Ten Jefferson Award GlobeChangers Nationwide

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Jun 22, 2011, 03:49 ET

WASHINGTON, June 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In recognition of his extraordinary strength in overcoming many obstacles to give back to the community, the Jefferson Awards honored Mordecai Scott as one of ten Jefferson Award GlobeChangers at a Washington, D.C., event held Tuesday afternoon at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. Known as the "Nobel Prize for Public Service," the Jefferson Awards are presented each year over two days of ceremonies where a broad array of honorees are recognized – from high-profile individuals who have dedicated the better part of their lives to public service, to celebrated professional athletes, to largely unheralded community-based volunteers. Also recognized are organizations and companies that represent the pinnacle in corporate citizenship and high schools that best reflect the Jeffersonian ideals of citizen involvement.

Scott was nominated for graduating from college and achieving in life despite severe hardship during his childhood. He was born in Charlotte, N.C., one of eight children. After his parents divorced, Scott and his siblings moved frequently between shelters and relatives. Scott was carrying a 0.68 GPA and on the verge of dropping out when, at age 12, school staff members reached out to show they cared. Communities In Schools then got involved and opened Scott's vision to begin thinking that if he applied himself, he could go to college and stand on his own. He went on to receive a scholarship and graduate from Davidson College. While at Davidson, Scott was introduced to a small town near Rock Creek, S.C. that had no electricity or running water. To help out, Scott started a "collect loose change drive" and eventually raised $2,600 to help the town's families. That was just the beginning of his commitment to giving back. Communities In Schools was impressed with Scott's dedication and hired him to work at the national office where he now serves as Alumni Network Specialist, leading an effort to engage the 12 million students who have been helped by the organization through the years. Scott's ultimate goal is to reach Communities In Schools alumni, with a passion much like his, into a powerful network to support each other and serve their communities.

"I am extremely pleased and humbled by this recognition. I can't say how thankful I am to those who helped me get to where I am today," said Scott. "I will continue to serve and hope to inspire others to do the same."

Scott now joins Communities In Schools Founder Bill Milliken as a recipient of the distinct honor. Milliken received the Jefferson Award in 2009 in the category of Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged for his 40 years of work helping young people graduate and prepare for life.

The 2011 Jefferson Awards recipients also include actress Marlo Thomas, Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls owner Jerry M. Reinsdorf, and U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The awards ceremony recognizing these individuals, among others, will take place over two days at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., and at Le Cirque in New York City.

About the Jefferson Awards for Public Service
The Jefferson Awards was co-founded in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. Senator Robert Taft, Jr. and Sam Beard, as the 'Nobel Prize' for public service. Named for one of America's most influential Founding Fathers, and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, the Jefferson Awards' central tenet is that each and every citizen shares a responsibility to work towards the betterment of their communities through economic participation, public service, volunteerism, and other such efforts to improve life for all. Today, the mission of the Jefferson Awards is to recognize, inspire and activate volunteerism and public service in communities, workplaces and schools across America. As President John .F. Kennedy once said, "One person can make a difference and every person should try." To date, more than 50,000 individuals of all ages have been recognized by the Jefferson Awards for their efforts to make the world around them a better place. For more information on The Jefferson Awards, visit www.JeffersonAwards.org

About Communities In Schools

Communities In Schools surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Through a school-based coordinator, Communities In Schools connects students and their families to critical community resources, tailored to local needs. Working in more than 3,400 schools in the most challenged communities, in 25 states and the District of Columbia, Communities In Schools serves nearly 1.3 million young people and their families every year. It is the only dropout prevention organization proven to both increase graduation rates and decrease dropout rates. Visit our website at www.communitiesinschools.org.

SOURCE Communities In Schools