Tom Barton covers breaking news for The Island Packet. He is a Davenport, Iowa, native and 2007 graduate of Iowa State University. Before coming to the Island Packet he worked as a reporter at The Des Moines Register. He moved to Bluffton in July 2010. | 
Brian Heffernan covers the Town of Hilton Head Island for The Island Packet. He is a native of St. Louis, Missouri and a graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism. | Forty-seven Hilton Head Island middle and high school students will receive an award Monday from Mayor Drew Laughlin for completing at least 50 hours of community service between May 1, 2011, and April 30.
Laughlin and South Carolina Yacht Club founder Leslie Richardson unveiled the Mayor’s Youth Volunteer Service Award in October to encourage students to give back and entice nonprofit groups to join with schools to provide volunteer work for students.
Nineteen of the 47 students will be awarded the Mayor’s Call to Service Award for completing more than 150 hours of community service.
Laughlin will present each student an award at a special ceremony at 3 p.m. Monday in the Benjamin M. Racusin Council Chambers at Town Hall, 1 Town Center Court.
“This is a way to say, ‘Thank you,’ and honor these students who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service and who have given their valuable time and effort into making a difference in our community,” Laughlin said.
Most schools on Hilton Head require students to perform community service.
Hilton Head Island High School, for example, requires 100 hours of community service to earn a diploma from the International Baccalaureate program. School clubs also volunteer with nonprofit groups to pick up trash on the beach and tutor.
To learn more about the Mayor’s Youth Service Award, click here or contact Lynn Buchman in the Mayor’s Office at 843-341-4700 or email lynnb@hiltonheadislandsc.gov.