State Honoree

Marquis Jamison, 13, of Las Vegas, Nev., a seventh-grader at Faith Lutheran Middle School and High School, has volunteered in a variety of ways to aid homeless people, at-risk kids, young cancer patients and children with disabilities. He began his volunteering in kindergarten, handing out food to the homeless. In second grade, he cut off his long hair in front of his whole school to draw attention to kids with cancer, and raised more than $3,000 for a cancer foundation.

A few years later, Marquis' mother started a nonprofit organization called "Vegas Youth Ambassadors," and Marquis became one of its most active participants. Besides handing out food, clothing and hygiene supplies to the homeless, Marquis has helped teach at-risk youth about teamwork, sportsmanship and how to be productive members of the community. In addition, Marquis has twice traveled to Sri Lanka and Thailand to work with orphaned children and deliver wheelchairs to children with disabilities. "I learned that it feels good to help other people and to stand up to make a change," said Marquis.