“Really,” she says into the phone. “Oh my Gosh, how wonderful.”

She hangs up the phone and then yells for her son.

A few minutes pass, and then a teenager appears and utters a disinterested “What?”

“You’re incredible,” the mother says.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” the son said, not knowing why his mother likes to keep bringing that up. “I’m an incredible son. You love me. I know.”

“Sshhh,” said mom. “No! You’re an Absolutely Incredible Kid. You won!”

Kevin Holbert laughed as he finished his story.

“That’s how I found out,” he said, his cheeks blushing at the memory. “At first I thought she was going on and on about how wonderful I am, and I’m like, ‘Mom, I know.’ But then she kept at it. And finally it came out.”

Holbert, along with nine other Bell County students, will be honored at the ninth annual Absolutely Incredible Kid Celebration on April 3 at the Bell County Expo Center.

“Kids are nominated by local schools, organizations and individuals,” said coordinator Karen Allman of Camp Fire USA, Tejas Council. “They are chosen according to the positive impact they exhibit in their everyday lives.”

Holbert, 18, is a junior at Belton High School. Robin Northen McAfee, his special education service coordinator, nominated him. He has cerebral palsy but does not yet require the use of a wheel chair.

“He’s physically limited, and he has learning disabilities, so learning in the traditional way is difficult for him,” Ms. McAfee said. “But (Holbert) is determined to graduate with the class of 2009.”

Finding his dedication inspiring, the counselor said the young man’s will to succeed is a positive example for all students.

Holbert isn’t just focused on his own success, though. He is also a serious volunteer. This school year, he has logged more than 100 volunteer hours with Aware Central Texas.

Emily Sievers, 17, joins Holbert in the rank of Incredible Kid volunteer.

A senior at Belton High School, Miss Sievers used her status as Belton Belle to help her community however she could.

“She contributed the most number of volunteer hours done by any of the 50 other Belles,” said Vicki Templin, health science technology teacher at BHS. “In fact, she set a record for the most volunteer hours ever performed in the 10 years of the program with an impressive 70-plus hours. (All that time) was to help the children of our area.”

Here’s a little bit about the rest of the Incredible Kids from the area. Students are listed youngest to oldest.

--Roosevelt Moore

Eight-year-old Roosevelt Moore was nominated by his grandmother, Mrs. Curley Browning. He’s a third grader at Chilton Elementary School.

“He’s always had an obsession for the Army, trucks and guns,” Mrs. Browning wrote in her nomination letter. “So when he found out that the neighbor’s nephew was on leave from the Army, he hightailed it over there for a visit.”

Brian Nors, the man on leave, couldn’t deny the small boy’s request. Moore wanted Nors to be the guest speaker for his school’s Veterans Day program.

“It turned out to be quite a day,” said the boy’s mother, Delicia Moore. “They even had a parade.”

When it came time to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Moore was just as excited.

Even though he’s normally soft spoken and shy, Mrs. Browning said the boy found it in him to memorize and recite the “I Have a Dream” speech.

--Callen Chambers

Teacher Craig Grove nominated Callen Chamber, 12.

The Lamar Middle School seventh grader has a list of academic accomplishments, but that’s not what makes him Incredible, according to Grove. Instead, it’s the boy’s compassion that earns him the honor.

“Callen of his own free will assists Isaac during lunch,” Grove said, introducing Isaac as the school’s only blind student.

The teacher sees Chambers greet Isaac at the cafeteria doors everyday to escort him to his seat. Chambers also accompanies Isaac through the lunch line, describing the food that’s being served.

“Most students would probably continue this for a day or two, but Callen has been consistently escorting Isaac through the line since the beginning of the year,” Grove said. “They have formed a bond of trust so strong that Isaac can walk through the middle of the cafeteria and know exactly where Callen will be standing, waiting to escort him through the lunch line. In this day and age where kindness is far and in between, it makes me so proud to see a young man of this caliber take the initiative and time to help another student in need and expect nothing in return.”

--Alexandra Askland

Kim Pierce and Christi Walker nominated honoree Alexandra Askland, 13, a seventh grader at Belton Middle School.

The student is praised for a strong academic record and her involvement in cross country, track and choir.

Her nomination letter was short but to the point. It said her compassion makes her a role model not just for other students but for adults as well.

Miss Askland frequently serves meals at several homeless shelters and volunteers with the “Feed My Starving Children” organization.

--Alex Fortenberry

His father died in Iraq almost four years ago.

He’s been mourning his loss, and he said he’s got more responsibility now as the man of the house.

“But he remains courteous, kind and respectful, despite the suffering,” said the people who nominated Alex Fortenberry as an Incredible Kid, Troy Middle School teacher Martha Davis and Principal Jimmy Cox.

The 14-year-old boy is the oldest of two sons. Mother Cynthia Fortenberry says her son is a strong source of support to her and a strong role model for his younger brother.

The young man seeks opportunities to help others, is active in his church’s youth group and helps run the sound system during church services.

Ms. Davis and Cox said one of the boy’s most striking accomplishments is his creation of “My Buddy, My Hero, My Dad.”

“He wrote and illustrated the book as a way to honor his dad,” they said.

A related essay, “My Hero” won Fortenberry first place in his age group in a Temple Daily Telegram essay contest.

--Benjamin Brunell

Academic counselor Michelle Copeland nominated Benjamin Brunell, 15, sophomore at Temple High School.

“He has great initiative in maintaining a strong academic program as well as a varied, involved extracurricular life,” Ms. Copeland said.

An October 2007 transfer student to Temple, Brunell was quick to join the high school’s golf team and Advanced Placement classes.

His lowest grade for the first semester was a 93.

He routinely volunteers at the Veteran’s Hospital on Tuesdays after school and is active in his church’s youth group.

(The three remaining Absolutely Incredible Kids of Bell County are Hunter Dean, 13, of Gatesville and Zane Wilson, 10, and Kathryn Miller, 18, both of Killeen. Their accomplishments are not included in this group since they live outside of the Temple-Belton area, said coordinator Karen Allman. The Absolutely Incredible Kid program is a project of Camp Fire USA, Tejas Council - a United Way affiliate.)

--tlunsford@temple-telegram.com