For community service initiatives that range from supporting families of
U.S. soldiers to helping children with cancer, 10 students were named
America’s top youth volunteers of 2015 today by The Prudential Spirit of
Community Awards, a national program sponsored by Prudential Financial
in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School
Principals (NASSP).
"Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts pays tribute to the 2015 Prudential Spirit of Community Award honorees in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Zach Harrison Photography)
These National Honorees, named during the program’s 20th annual national
award ceremony at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, range in age from 12 to
18. They were selected first from a field of more than 33,000 middle
level and high school youth volunteers nationwide, and then from 102
State Honorees, based on their initiative, effort, impact, and the
personal growth demonstrated in the course of their volunteer service.
The National Honorees each received $5,000 personal awards, engraved
gold medallions, crystal trophies for their schools, and $5,000 grants
from The Prudential Foundation for charities of their choice.
Today’s ceremony was part of a four-day celebration that brought each
state’s top two youth volunteers of 2015 to Washington, D.C., for
sightseeing and special recognition events. These State Honorees – one
middle level and one high school student from each state and the
District of Columbia – were personally congratulated by “Good Morning
America” co-anchor Robin Roberts last night at a gala dinner reception
at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. Each State
Honoree received a $1,000 award.
These are the 10 National Honorees named today:
Jake Gallin, 13, of New Rochelle, N.Y., a seventh-grader at
Albert Leonard Middle School, founded an organization called “Stars for
Cars” and has raised more than $12,000 for the United Service
Organization (USO) by selling star-shaped magnetic car decals that honor
families of soldiers who have served in the U.S. armed forces.
Raghav Ganesh, 13, of San Jose, Calif., a seventh-grader at
Joaquin Miller Middle School, designed and built a device that uses
sensors to detect objects beyond the reach of the white canes used by
many visually impaired people.
Carolina Gonzalez, 18, of Coral Gables, Fla., a senior at Our
Lady of Lourdes Academy in Miami, started a nonprofit organization that
has helped more than 500 undocumented young immigrants apply for
temporary residence and employment in the U.S. under the Deferred Action
for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and has raised more than $22,000
to pay the application fees of those who cannot afford them.
Eric Li, 14, of Manvel, Texas, an eighth-grader at Pearland
Junior High West, founded a nonprofit organization with his siblings
that has collected nearly $200,000 in cash and in-kind donations to help
children around the world recover from major disasters.
Arturo (AJ) Mattia, 15, of Turnersville, N.J., a freshman at Holy
Cross Academy, survived bone cancer and a leg amputation to become a
prominent champion for pediatric cancer awareness and fundraising.
Morlan Osgood, 16, of Loveland, Ohio, a junior at Loveland High
School, co-founded an educational program that has helped more than
14,000 students in grades 2-12 develop their interest and skills in STEM
subjects (science, technology, engineering and math) through summer
camps, after-school classes, conference workshops and other activities.
Samantha Petersen, 18, of South Windsor, Conn., a home-schooled
senior, founded a nonprofit organization that disseminates information
about scoliosis, screens children in low-income communities for the
disease, and offers emotional support to those undergoing corrective
surgery.
Elizabeth Quesenberry, 17, of Wilmington, Del., a senior at Padua
Academy High School, overcame a diagnosis of brain cancer to start a
nonprofit organization that has raised $100,000 over the past six years
to increase awareness of childhood cancer, help fund the search for a
cure, and ease the financial pressure on families of young cancer
patients.
Carter Ries, 14, of Fayetteville, Ga., an eighth-grader at Konos
Academy, created a weeklong educational curriculum with his younger
sister that is teaching kids about the importance of reducing plastic
pollution.
Caleb White, 12, of Commerce Township, Mich., a seventh-grader at
Clifford H. Smart Middle School, hands out boxes of food, toiletries and
warm garments to the homeless on the streets of Detroit each year during
the Christmas season, and last August threw a back-to-school party that
provided 800 children in need with backpacks stuffed with new school
supplies.
“As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Prudential Spirit of
Community Awards, we are delighted to recognize the 2015 honorees for
their exemplary volunteer service,” said John Strangfeld, chairman and
CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc. “These young people have demonstrated
leadership, compassion and perseverance, and we look forward to seeing
all they accomplish in the future.”
“These honorees represent the best of what America’s youth have to
offer,” said G.A. Buie, president of NASSP. “They have set a powerful
example for their peers by proving that one young person really can make
a difference, and it is a privilege to shine a spotlight on their good
works.”
The distinguished selection committee that chose the National Honorees
was chaired by Strangfeld and included Buie of NASSP; Andrea Bastiani
Archibald, chief girl expert for Girl Scouts of the USA; Robert Bisi,
senior public affairs manager for the Corporation for National and
Community Service; Tracy Hoover, president of Points of Light; Reneé
Jackson, senior manager of education programs at the National PTA;
Maxine Margaritis, vice president of volunteer services for the American
Red Cross; Delia Pompa, senior vice president for programs at the
National Council of La Raza; Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO of
the National 4-H Council; Dru Tomlin, director of middle level services
for the Association for Middle Level Education; Kevin Washington,
president and CEO of YMCA of the USA; and two 2014 National Honorees:
Sean Egan of Staten Island, N.Y., a freshman at the University of
Pennsylvania, and Kinsey Morrison of Goshen, Ky., a freshman at Stanford
University.
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards was created in 1995 to
identify and recognize young people for outstanding volunteer service –
and, in so doing, inspire others to volunteer, too. In the past 20
years, the program has honored more than 100,000 young volunteers at the
local, state and national level.
For more information about The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and
this year’s honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com
or www.nassp.org/spirit.
About NASSP
The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the
leading organization of and voice for middle level and high school
principals, assistant principals, and school leaders from across the
United States and 35 countries around the world. The association
connects and engages school leaders through advocacy, research,
education, and student programs. NASSP advocates on behalf of all school
leaders to ensure the success of each student and strengthens school
leadership practices through the design and delivery of high-quality
professional learning experiences. Reflecting its long-standing
commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the
National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National
Elementary Honor Society, and National Association of Student Councils.
For more information about NASSP, located in Reston, VA, visit www.nassp.org.
About Prudential Financial
Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader, has
operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
Prudential’s diverse and talented employees are committed to helping
individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth
through a variety of products and services, including life insurance,
annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment
management. In the U.S., Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for
strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century.
For more information, please visit www.news.prudential.com.
Editors: For full-color pictures of the Prudential Spirit of
Community Awards program logo and medallions, visit http://spirit.prudential.com.
For digital photos or B-roll of the National Honorees at the 2015
national recognition events, contact Prudential’s Harold Banks at (973)
216-4833 or harold.banks@prudential.com.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20150504006122/en/
Copyright Business Wire 2015