Along with Making the Grade, Attleboro Students Honored for Making a Difference

students Isabelle Cleveland and Michael Mahony were among 100 students from across Massachusetts who were honored with the "Make A Difference  Award" in a ceremony held at Boston's John F. Kennedy Presidential Library on Wednesday.

The Kennedy Presidential Library's "Make A Difference Award" is given to students who are nominated by a teacher or principal for an outstanding contribution they have made to their school, neighborhood, town or the global community.

Brennan Principal Karen Saltzman nominated  Cleveland and Mahony for their work with the Best Buddies International's campaign to "Spread the Word to End the Word," which is dedicated to the elimation of the "R" word, referring to the derrogatory use of the words "retard" and "retarded."

Isabelle is an officer in the Brennan chapter of Best Buddies and was instrumental in organizing a "when all students and staff wore black shirts to honor their anti-"R-Word" pledge.

In addition to Mahony's Best Buddy participation, he brings a smile to the Brennan community as he starts each day with his "joke of the day," delivered personally to nearly every classroom in the school.

"President Kennedy believed that every person can make a difference and each of us should try," Kennedy Library Director Tom Putnam said. "These students are an inspiring example of JFK's timeless call to service."

Both students received a personalized certificate recognizing their work.