Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Recognize Wisconsin's Youth Volunteers

Strategic Insights -

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards has been recognizing outstanding community service by young people in Wisconsin for 15 years, with over 1,900 middle and high school students honored for their volunteer work. This year marks the 16th year of the program, which is presented nationwide by Prudential Financial, Inc. in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). The program aims to recognize and celebrate the positive contributions of young volunteers, and to encourage them to continue their community service.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards has recognized over 1,900 middle and high school students in Wisconsin for their volunteer work over the past 15 years.
  • The program is presented nationwide by Prudential Financial, Inc. in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
  • Young volunteers can apply online at http://spirit.prudential.com or at www.principals.org/spirit, and applications must be completed by November 1, 2010.
  • Local Honorees will receive Certificates of Achievement and be reviewed by a state-level judging committee, which will name the top two candidates from each state and the District of Columbia as State Honorees.
  • State Honorees will receive $1,000 awards, engraved silver medallions, and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., with a parent for four days of recognition events.
  • Kyle Manske, 19, of Wauwatosa and Deena Whitwam, 13, of New Richmond were Wisconsin's top youth volunteers for 2010, recognized for their efforts in collecting children's books for patients at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and creating and leading a weekly book club for young children.
  • The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program has honored over 90,000 young volunteers at local, state and national levels since 1995.
  • The program is conducted by Prudential subsidiaries in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Ireland, and India.

Statistics:

  • Over 1,900 middle and high school students have been recognized by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards in Wisconsin over the past 15 years.
  • 90,000 young volunteers have been honored by the program at local, state and national levels since 1995.
  • Applications for the 2010-2011 program must be completed by November 1, 2010.
  • $1,000 awards will be given to the top two State Honorees from each state and the District of Columbia.
  • Kyle Manske, 19, and Deena Whitwam, 13, spent over 7,000 hours and 100 hours collecting children's books and leading a book club, respectively.

Sources:

  • Prudential Financial, Inc.
  • National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)
  • Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
  • The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards website (http://spirit.prudential.com)
  • www.principals.org/spirit
  • www.news.prudential.com