By Ashlea Brown / Times-News

A Burlington man has received the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

James Reid, a native of Greensboro, received the national award, granted to citizens who have achieved the required number of service hours over a year or cumulatively over a lifetime.

Reid was chosen for his hard work and consistent volunteering over the years with Citizens Schools, a nonprofit organization that partners with low-income middle schools in need of outside support. It provides academic assistance to students and the chance to participate in 10-week apprenticeships taught by professionals in the community.

“I love giving back to the community, and volunteering with Citizen Schools has allowed me to do just that while teaching students valuable skills they can take with them through their professional careers,” Reid said.

Through his job at a financial institution, Reid was able to work with a small group of coworkers over the past four years to create and deliver these apprenticeships at Lowe’s Grove Middle School in Durham. They were able to teach students web design, during which they built their own blogs. They also provided professional networking, enabling students to explore different career options, come up with elevator pitches and interact with professionals in desired fields.

Another opportunity for the students was Building The Next Big Tech, which helps students focus on technology ideas which could one day change the world.

“I’m happy to receive this award as it serves as recognition for all the hard work I put back into the community,” Reid said. “Receiving the award just drives me to give back even more.”