Rocker Jon Bon Jovi and Today Show co-anchors Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie were the shining stars at the Make A Difference Awards Luncheon this month in Washington, D.C.

But a tiny Escambia County school shared the spotlight with the big stars at the annual event honoring volunteerism.

Escambia Charter School proved that size really doesn’t matter. Students at the smallest public high school in the county made a big difference by collecting and distributing hundreds of pounds of canned goods and snacks to the needy.

Their charitable work was among 14 grassroots volunteer efforts across the U.S. recognized during the awards ceremony.

She’Kerion Thompkins, along with the school’s principal, Jerome Chisolm, traveled to Washington to accept the award on April 10.

For Thompson, it was surreal to take his first flight and make his first visit to the nation’s capital for doing something worthwhile.

“I have never done anything like this before,” said Thompkins, 17, a junior in his second year at the school. “I didn’t know helping people could be so rewarding.”

The award goes farther than personal satisfaction. The school also received $10,000, which the students gave to a local women’s prison ministry.

In addition to the 14 award winners, Lauer and Guthrie received awards for their advocacy of the show’s Shine a Light campaign, promoting volunteerism across the country.

Bon Jovi – the Grammy-award winning musician, philanthropist and founder of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation – also was recognized for his commitment to giving back the community. NBC correspondent Jenna Bush Hager served as master of ceremonies for the event.

Make A Difference Day is the nation’s largest day of service, bringing together millions of Americans to volunteer in their local neighborhoods and communities.

It was started in 1992 by Gannett Co. Inc.’s USA WEEKEND Magazine, along with partners, Newman’s Own Inc. and Points of Light.

Escambia Charter School was selected from thousands of nationwide volunteer initiatives that took place during the 2013 Make A Difference Day.

The school, just off U.S. 29 in Cantonment, serves about 120 mostly at-risk students who were removed from public schools because of bad behavior or failing grades. It was the only organization in the entire state to receive a Make A Difference Award last year.

The school’s volunteer project began in September when students collected or contributed 300 pounds of canned good and snacks for a food pantry and the USO, as well as 60 boxes of clothes for three shelters.

On Make A Difference Day on Oct. 26, 20 students, with 15 parents and teachers, organized and delivered donations – then split into teams to do yard work for four elderly or disabled homeowners.

Their volunteer efforts have led to even more charitable work. Last week, some students prepared food for 100 homeless people. They are planning more projects throughout the year.

Chisolm, the school’s principal, hopes the students learn valuable lessons from helping others.

“Providing helping hands will teach them to concentrate on the power within them instead of focuses on the problems surrounding them,” he said. “We are looking at adopting a slogan that says: 'Enter to learn; depart to serve.’ ”

As bright as the stars shined at the awards ceremony, Escambia Charter students showed that anyone, not just the rich or famous, truly can make a difference.

“This has inspired me to take more of a leadership role and try to influence others to do the same,” Thompkins said. “Doing something for other people makes me feel good inside.”

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