Already a full-time employee, high school student and college student at 17, Cody Kelemen recently claimed another accomplishment – recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Logging more than 150 hours of community service last year, Kelemen, of Texas City, was awarded the bronze level honor.

Kelemen, who attends College of the Mainland Collegiate High School, began tracking his community service hours after attending a high school leadership conference and the time quickly stacked up.

He volunteered with the local police department, helped mentor students at Texas City High School, participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and served at COM with Nu Psi, a student club, and Phi Theta Kappa, the international community college honor society.

“I like to stay busy,” said Kelemen. “It gives me a purpose. I’ve had a lot of benefits and realize a lot of others have not had the same benefits.”

He plans to help with another service project this year with COM’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa – working with students from local high schools who will be the first in their families to attend college.

“We’re going to show them you can overcome struggles and get a good education,” said Kelemen.

As a COM Collegiate High School student, Keleman will graduate this May with an Associate of Arts in criminal justice. He has been accepted to Sam Houston State for fall 2016 and then plans to attend law school to work in criminal law.

“I realized (Collegiate High School) would help me get a head start on my education. I realized I would have a lot of education with law school,” said Kelemen.

Taking all his academics on the COM campus while remaining involved with extracurricular activities at Texas City High School, Kelemen excelled.

“He’s a phenomenal student,” said Collegiate High School Principal Sandi Belcher. “He has a 4.0 GPA. He’s one of the most driven students I’ve seen in a long time.”

Despite a grueling schedule of full-time classes and work that he tackles with “time management and prayer," Kelemen plans to continue giving back.

“It gives you pride and allows you to hold your head a little higher knowing you mare making a difference,” said Kelemen. “You can change the world. Even if it’s changing one person’s life, that’s changing the world.”

For more information about COM Collegiate High School, visit www.com.edu/chs or call 409-933-8169.