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Sam Ludwig, graduating from Mt. Ararat High School in Topsham, recently built the Web site shown next to him for the Interact Club, one of his many volunteer projects.

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SAM LUDWIG

SCHOOL: Mt. Ararat High School, Topsham

Ludwig is perhaps best known for organizing Relay for Life teams, which raise money to fight cancer. This year, he reached his goal of breaking $1,000.

Like a lot of other teenagers his age, Sam Ludwig really likes video games. But his other hobby doesn't involve cars, skateboards, comic books or any of the other interests that typically catch the eye of an 18-year-old.

His other hobby is volunteering.

Ludwig, who graduates today from Mt. Ararat High School in Topsham, is known for taking on numerous community projects without expecting any recognition in return.

He credits his parents, who volunteered at Special Olympics for years, for getting him interested in helping others.

The Ludwigs always took their son with them to Special Olympics events, even when he was an infant, "so it kind of just runs through my blood," he said. "I love to do it. I love to give to people."

Ludwig is perhaps best known for working on the Relay for Life, which raises money to fight cancer. He began by raising $500 his freshman year, which he topped by raising $600 as a sophomore, and then topped again with $800 as a junior. This year, he reached his goal of breaking $1,000.

Deborah Ludwig, his mother, says her son has had to overcome some learning disabilities in his school years and the volunteer work has helped him learn to be organized and believe in himself as a leader.

"He's really come around this year," she said. "I think that the whole confidence thing about organizing (Relay for Life) was huge for him, and was really a confidence booster."

Another one of Ludwig's passions is the Interact Club, an offshoot of the Rotary Club in Brunswick. Through this group, Ludwig has helped struggling families in other countries, put together baskets of goodies for U.S. troops serving abroad, raised money for victims of Hurricane Katrina and organized "polar plunges" to fund Maine heating assistance programs.

"This year, we started a new tradition," Ludwig said. "We do a thing called Cram the Van. It's a big food drive that our school puts on."

Earlier this spring, Ludwig helped organize a fundraising drive for a new senior citizens' community in town.

The money raised bought the residents food and new kitchen supplies.

On top of all this, Ludwig volunteers in youth sports by helping younger kids learn football, baseball and wrestling.

Ludwig will attend Western New England College in Springfield, Mass., in the fall.

He wants to study biomedical engineering so he can learn how to build prosthetics for people who have lost limbs.

Staff Writer Meredith Goad can be contacted at 791-6332 or at:

mgoad@pressherald.com