Eighteen-year-old Austin Shaw of Wake Forest was among 100 youth volunteers from across the country honored Sunday for outstanding service in the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.

The Wake Forest-Rolesville senior organized a 5K race to benefit a vocational school in Uganda, raising thousands of dollars to provide bunk beds and scholarships.

According to a news release, when Austin learned about the dire conditions at the school from a friend who works with the organization Embrace Uganda, "I felt compelled to contribute my talents and efforts to those children in need," he said. As an avid runner and an officer of his school's Key Club, he persuaded the club to support a 5K fund-raising race to benefit the Ugandan school.

Austin mapped out the details of the race, obtained approval from government officials, arranged 50 presentations to local businesses to seek donations, and held a fund-raiser at his school. He promoted the event with banners and media interviews, and on the day of the race, led a 50-member volunteer team in managing all of the logistics.

In addition to the race itself, Austin's event featured photographs, artwork, music, and presentations designed to raise awareness of African issues. With 120 runners and walkers showing up for the race, Austin was able to collect enough money to replace old mattresses at the vocational school with 30 new bunk beds, and fund one-year scholarships for 20 children. He also collected 500 books to open a library at the school, and sent more than 200 T-shirts to the school.

"Next year, I will organize the second annual Steps for Schools 5K Road Race and increase the fund-raising goal, hoping to financially contribute to other schools in Uganda," said Shaw.

Shaw was joined at the recognition event by North Carolina's top middle school volunteer, 14-year-old Sydney Pfaff of Morehead City. Pfaff organized an annual kids' fashion show and luncheon that has raised nearly $14,000 for a variety of causes over the past three years.

NBC 17 featured Austin Shaw in a June 2008 story on a basketball tournament he organized for community youth. Click here to watch.