Tuesday night, for the ninth year, we honored some of the best volunteers our community has to offer.

The Jefferson Awards recognizes those who give of their time and efforts to make the area better for others.

Four Brazos Valley residents were honored with the prestigious Jefferson Award at the ceremony at the George Bush Presidential Library.

Nancy Berry, Ben Downs, Ann Boney and Bea Cephas were this year's honorees. Nancy Berry was chosen to represent our area in Washington, DC.

Berry's business card may read "College Station mayor" now, but titles held and hours put in with the Boys and Girls Club, Habitat for Humanity and a variety of community groups couldn't all fit on a business card or a punch card.

Ben Downs uses his seat at the top of Bryan Broadcasting to help his community, but even if he didn't have the airwaves, he'd be doing something to help those in need with a smile.

Ann Boney's leadership at the local NAACP has brought her respect and admiration, but what she's brought to citizen advisory boards and to floral students at Texas A&M has advanced many lives and brought many smiles.

Bea Cephas was a secretary, a day care owner and served on the city council. If that wasn't enough for Calvert, she's a care giver at the city's senior citizen center, continuing a life a service born of a giving area family.

For their efforts in their community, these four people have joined elite company that they never asked for but surely deserve -- volunteer leaders now Jefferson Award winners.