Michigan's Top Youth Volunteers Honored by Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

Strategic Insights -

Aparna Ghosh, a 17-year-old from Ann Arbor, and Courtney Fedeson, a 12-year-old from Belmont, have been named Michigan's top two youth volunteers for 2009. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism, has recognized these two exceptional individuals for their selfless efforts.

Key Takeaways:

  • Aparna Ghosh, a senior at Pioneer High School, organized a benefit concert that raised over $5,400 for a rural area in India, providing basic health education and preventive care.
  • The concert was a collaborative effort, involving renowned professional dancers from Michigan and a local Hindu temple, and ultimately raising awareness about different styles of Indian dance.
  • Aparna's project, "Dance to Empower Stronger Healthcare," aimed to provide medical supplies and educate rural Indians about personal hygiene and disease prevention.
  • Courtney Fedeson, a seventh-grader at North Rockford Middle School, led her Girl Scout troop in a project to landscape and beautify the front entrance of her school.
  • The project, which was months in the planning, involved fundraising, community outreach, and hands-on work by Courtney and her troop.
  • Courtney's initiative and dedication have raised awareness about the importance of community service and volunteerism among her peers.
  • Both Aparna and Courtney have been named State Honorees, and will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. in May.

Statistics:

  • $5,400: The amount raised by Aparna's benefit concert to provide basic health education and preventive care in a rural area of India.
  • 14: The number of years The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards has been honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism.
  • 10: The number of finalists from across the country who will be named America's top youth volunteers for 2009 in May.

Sources:

  • "Aparna Ghosh and Courtney Fedeson Named Michigan's Top Two Youth Volunteers" (Journal of India, 2009)
  • The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards (prudential.com/spirit)