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When his plane touched down outside of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia last July, Daniel Artin, 18, of Camp Springs wasn't sure what to expect. As part of the first generation of his family to be born in the U.S., Artin grew up hearing stories of his family's native Ethiopia, but had never visited.

Artin and his brother, David Artin, 19, spent the month not only visiting family members they had only spoken with on the phone, but also volunteering to tutor HIV-positive children at an orphanage. He said he came back inspired by the students he tutored and strengthened by a deeper connection to his heritage.

"I just wanted to give back to our country," he said. "We've been blessed and fortunate. ... It would only be right to give back."

In recognition of his volunteer work, outgoing personality and academic accolades, Artin was named Man of the Year on Saturday during Bishop McNamara's graduation ceremony, held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

All 202 graduating seniors were required to complete a service project in order to graduate, but Principal Marco Clark said Artin stood because he sought out opportunities for service abroad.

"I think that manifests the kind of big thinker that he is and the type of servant that he is, to do work on a much larger level," Clark said. Artin's brother was also named Man of the Year when he graduated from Bishop McNamara in 2008, and Clark said he could not recall another set of siblings who both received one of the school's top honors.

The brothers volunteered with Atlanta-based nonprofit organization Artists for Charity, which operates the home in Addis Ababa for HIV-positive orphaned children. For two weeks, they helped tutor 16 boys and girls, ages 8 to 16, who were preparing to take a private school entrance exam.

Artin said he was amazed at how the children refused to let their HIV-positive status define them, even those who were aware of their white blood cell count, which is often an indication of their chances of survival.

"They read books and play soccer and play with marbles. They do anything kids would do anywhere else in the world," Artin said. "Having HIV doesn't dictate their lives."

On his last day in Ethiopia, he learned that all 16 students had passed the exam.

"That was the proudest and happiest moment of my life," he said.

Artists for Charity founder Abedash Tamerat, who met Artin when he visited with two of his former students who came to the U.S. several months after he returned, said she was impressed by his ongoing commitment to the children.

"Most kids his age would not be concerned with such issues," she said. "He went beyond his age."

Artin will attend the University of Virginia in Charlottesville next fall and plans to return to Addis Ababa with his brother the summer after his freshman year. His mother, Saba Belachew, said he used to tell her he wanted to pursue engineering, but changed his focus to international relations after his time in Ethiopia.

"Every morning he couldn't wait to go and see those kids," she said. "He said, ‘Mom, I don't want to be an engineer anymore, I want to go and help more kids like this.'"