Mordecai Scott, a 2006 West Charlotte High School graduate who overcame family hardships to attend Davidson College, received the Jefferson Award for public service earlier this week in Washington, D.C.

He was one of 10 to receive the GlobeChangers award at a Tuesday event at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. Known as the “Nobel Prize for Public Service,” the awards are presented each year over two days of ceremonies.

Scott was nominated for his efforts to overcome childhood hardships to graduate from college.

Scott, one of eight children, moved frequently between shelters and relatives after his parents divorced. He carried a 0.68 GPA and was on the verge of dropping out when, at age 12, school staff got involved.

With help from the nonprofit group Communities In Schools, Scott began to envision himself attending college. He went on to receive a scholarship from Davidson and graduated in 2010.

While in college, Scott helped raise $2,600 in “loose change” to help families in the small town of Rock Creek, S.C., which had no electricity or running water.

He later was hired to work in the national office of Communities In Schools, where he now serves as alumni network specialist, leading an effort to engage the 12 million students who have been helped by the organization.

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

About the Jefferson Award:
The award 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

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