Twelve middle and high school students from southeast Georgia were recognized Friday by the American Red Cross of Southeast and Coastal Georgia as Youth Heroes. The selected students extended their hearts and hands in volunteer work and were honored with a breakfast held in the Natural Resources Building at Ogeechee Technical College. Esther Sheppard, executive director of the American Red Cross of Southeast and Coastal Georgia, pointed out that, according to a study of youth development, youth volunteers are “twice as likely to get better grades in school, 25-percent more likely to positively contribute to their family and community and twice as likely to continue their volunteer efforts as adults.”