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Top Youth Volunteers in Each State Selected in 16th Annual National Awards Program

2011-02-08 08:00 ET - News Release

102 student volunteers earn $1,000 awards, silver medallions and trip to nation’s capital


WASHINGTON -- (Business Wire)

America’s 102 most outstanding youth volunteers – two from each state and the District of Columbia – were named State Honorees today by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for exemplary acts of volunteerism. The awards program, now in its 16th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial, Inc. in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

Each of the 102 State Honorees will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., April 30-May 3 for several days of national recognition events. Ten of them will be named America’s top youth volunteers for 2011 at that time.

In addition to the State Honorees, the program’s judges recognized 233 students nationwide as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities. Each will receive an engraved bronze medallion. More than 500 other applicants were awarded Certificates of Excellence for their volunteer work. (See attached list of State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists.)

A large number of State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists this year – 20 percent – conducted volunteer activities to address needs in foreign countries, especially in Africa and Latin America. Honorees traveled to volunteer in orphanages, build homes, and teach impoverished children. In their own communities, they collected food, medical supplies, clothing, books, school supplies, eyeglasses, teddy bears, and soccer cleats to send overseas. And they raised money to finance school tuitions, refugee relief, AIDS medications, clean-water projects, and other critical needs in desperate communities around the world.

There was a great deal of energy devoted to needs in the U.S., as well. Many honorees were recognized for assisting Americans who are sick or disabled, aiding the disadvantaged, tutoring or mentoring other young people, and promoting health and safety. Others were cited for enhancing school or community resources, protecting the environment, taking care of animals, and supporting U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Information on the volunteer activities of all of the honorees can be found at http://spirit.prudential.com.

“These award recipients have proven that young people across America are critical to the future of our neighborhoods, our nation, and our world,” said John R. Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial. “Each and every one of these honorees deserve our respect and admiration, and we hope by shining a light on them, they will continue to serve as an example for others.”

All public and private middle level and high schools in the U.S., as well as all Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of HandsOn Network, were eligible to select a student or member for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award this past November. More than 5,000 Local Honorees were then reviewed by an independent judging panel, which selected State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists based on criteria such as personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth.

“The young people recognized by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards demonstrate an enormous capacity for giving and reaching out to those in need,” said Gerald N. Tirozzi, executive director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. “NASSP is proud to honor these student leaders because they are wonderful examples of the high caliber of young people in our nation’s schools today.”

While in Washington, D.C., the 102 State Honorees will tour the capital’s landmarks, attend a gala awards ceremony at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, and visit their congressional representatives on Capitol Hill. In addition, 10 of them – five middle level and five high school students – will be named National Honorees on May 2 by a prestigious national selection committee. These honorees will receive additional $5,000 awards, gold medallions, crystal trophies, and $5,000 grants from The Prudential Foundation for nonprofit, charitable organizations of their choice.

Serving on the national selection committee will be Strangfeld of Prudential; Jana Frieler, president of NASSP; Michelle Nunn, president and CEO of the Points of Light & HandsOn Network; Marguerite Kondracke, president and CEO of the America’s Promise Alliance; Donald T. Floyd Jr., president and CEO of National 4-H Council; Pamela Farr, the American Red Cross’ national chair of volunteers; Elson Nash, associate director for project management at the Corporation for National and Community Service; Michael Cohen, president and CEO of Achieve, Inc.; and two 2010 Prudential Spirit of Community National Honorees: Shannon McNamara of Basking Ridge, N.J., and Benjamin Sater of Plano, Texas.

In addition to granting its own awards, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program will distribute President’s Volunteer Service Awards to more than 2,800 of its Local Honorees this year on behalf of President Barack Obama. The President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards represent the United States’ largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteer service. Since the program began in 1995, more than 95,000 young volunteers have been honored at the local, state or national level. Many prominent public figures have assisted in saluting these honorees over the years, including President Jimmy Carter, Barbara Bush, Magic Johnson, John Glenn, Madeleine Albright, Rudy Giuliani, Whoopi Goldberg, Colin Powell, Peyton Manning, Laura Bush, and Condoleezza Rice. The program also is conducted by Prudential subsidiaries in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Ireland and India.

In existence since 1916, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the preeminent organization of and national voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and aspiring school leaders from across the United States and more than 45 countries around the world. NASSP’s mission is to promote excellence in school leadership. The National Honor Society®, National Junior Honor Society®, National Elementary Honor Society™, and National Association of Student Councils® are all NASSP programs. For more information about NASSP, located in Reston, Va., visit www.nassp.org or call 703-860-0200.

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, investment management, and real estate services. 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 http://www.news.prudential.com/

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

2011 State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists

 

Alabama

State Honorees:

Megan Smith, 16, Hartselle High School, Hartselle
Emma O’Rear, 13, Haleyville City Schools, Hayleyville
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Anna Atchley, 17, Muscle Shoals High School, Muscle Shoals
Mi’a Callens, 17, Oak Mountain High School, Birmingham
Shejuti Paul, 17, American Red Cross of Northwest Alabama, Florence
Catherine Shipp, 17, W.P. Davidson High School, Mobile
 

Alaska

State Honorees:

Zachary Boyden, 17, Colony High School, Palmer

Ashton Lund, 13, Fronteras Spanish Immersion Charter School, Wasilla
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Olivia Pfeifer, 17, Kenai Central High School, Kenai
Anna Wichorek, 18, West Anchorage High School, Anchorage
 

Arizona

State Honorees:

Jennifer O’Neal, 17, Sahuaro Girl Scout Council, Tucson
Kayla Gamble, 11, Wigwam Creek Middle School, Litchfield Park
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Max Benning, 14, HandsOn Greater Phoenix, Phoenix
Erika Crandall, 17, Mesa High School, Mesa
Kelley Gullo, 18, Queen Creek High School, Queen Creek
Magin Hall, 18, Lake Hayasu High School, Lake Hayasu City
Preslee Swern, 17, Paradise Honors High School, Surprise
Zobella Vinik, 18, Basis Tucson, Tucson
 

Arkansas

State Honorees:

Abigail Gates, 18, University of Arkansas 4-H Extension Service, Clinton
Leyton Gassaway, 12, Crowley’s Ridge Academy, Paragould
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Mills Bryant, 13, Morrilton Junior High School, Morrilton
Whitney Condley, 17, Hector High School, Hector
Hodge Hunter, 18, Clark County 4-H Extension Office, Arkadelphia
Melanie Morse, 17, Benton High School, Benton
 

California

State Honorees:

Blakely Colvin, 17, Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, Santa Ynez
Tyler Page, 13, J. Douglas Adams Middle School, Brentwood
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Athman Adiseshan, 13, East Valley Family YMCA, San Jose
Francesca Coxe, 17, San Clemente High School, San Clemente
Caitlin Crommett, 17, Tesoro High School, Rancho Santa Margarita
Gabriel Ferrick, 15, Montgomery High School, Santa Rosa
Tatiana Grossman, 17, American Red Cross Silicon Valley, San Jose
Joyce Lau, 17, Mira Loma High School, Sacramento
Catherine Mitchell, 15, Guajome Park Academy, Vista
Nicolas Northen, 12, Las Flores Middle School, Las Flores
Katie Whaley, 16, Lutheran High School of Orange County, Orange
Sarah Williams, 18, Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton
 

Colorado

State Honorees:

Lindsey Buxman, 16, Centennial High School, Pueblo
Leah Fox, 13, Boltz Middle School, Fort Collins

 

Distinguished Finalists:

Angela Harder, 18, Holy Family High School, Broomfield
Tesia Kolodziejczyk, 18, Pine Creek High School, Colorado Springs
Ann Moorman, 15, Arapahoe County 4-H Extension Office, Littleton
Kristina Shonkwiler, 14, Cheyenne Mountain Junior High School, Colorado Springs
 

Connecticut

State Honorees:

Jonathan Berman, 16, Westhill High School, Stamford
Alec Albright, 13, St. Mary School, Milford
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Syed Alam, 17, Cheshire High School, Cheshire
Sarah Hackett, 18, Wilton High School, Wilton
Amoolya Narayanan, 17, Glastonbury High School, Glastonbury
Alex Navarro, 18, Old Saybrook High School, Old Saybrook
 

Delaware

State Honorees:

Jon Osborne, 18, Charter School of Wilmington, Wilmington
Genevieve Spence, 12, Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay, Newark
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Matthew McNeill, 14, Archmere Academy, Claymont
Kelsey Oli, 17, Indian River High School, Dagsboro
 

District of Columbia

State Honorees:

Kevin Iraheta, 17, Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, Washington
Chaquan Barbett, 13, Kramer Middle School, Washington
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Victoria McGee, 17, School Without Walls, Washington
 

Florida

State Honorees:

Wendi Oppenheim, 18, Pine Crest School, Fort Lauderdale
Rachel Wheeler, 11, Zion Lutheran Christian School, Deerfield Beach
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Danielle Colson, 18, American Heritage School, Plantation
Kayla Dubnick, 17, West Boca Raton High School, Boca Raton
Benjamin Gajus, 17, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland
Kelly Hsu, 17, Miami Palmetto Senior High School, Miami
Colby Lufkin, 17, St. Edwards School, Vero Beach
Lucas Metropulos, 18, St. Andrew’s School, Boca Raton
Catherine Trisch, 18, Fort White High School, Fort White
Joshua Williams, 9, Fisher Island Day School, Fisher Island
 

Georgia

State Honorees:

Andrew Mirolli, 18, North Paulding High School, Dallas
Tiffani Alexander, 13, Rockdale County 4-H Extension Office, Conyers
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Morgan Bowen, 17, Sumter County 4-H Club, Americus
Myasia Burns, 17, Monroe Area High School, Monroe
Tate Hutwagner, 17, Columbus High School, Columbus
Mary Lathem, 15, Newton County 4-H Extension Office, Covington
Charles Orgbon, 15, Mill Creek High School, Hoschton
Jacob Seltman, 18, Centennial High School, Roswell
 

Hawaii

State Honorees:

Natalie Mohr, 17, Kealakehe High School, Kailua-Kona
Carly Button, 14, Hawaii Technology Academy, Waipahu
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Richel Marie Cole, 17, Sacred Hearts Academy, Honolulu
Kyle Nakatsuka, 17, Kamehameha High School, Kapalama, Honolulu
 

Idaho

State Honorees:

Dylan Bass, 18, Garden Valley High School, Garden Valley
McKenzie Gredler, 13, Sawtooth Middle School, Meridian
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Zana Davey, 17, The Community School, Sun Valley
Emily Miller, 19, Kuna High School, Kuna
 

Illinois

State Honorees:

Elizabeth Lee, 18, Lake Park High School, Roselle
Glennita Williams, 14, Mckinley Junior High School, South Holland
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Jonny Cohen, 15, Highland Park High School, Highland Park
Henry DeTrempe, 17, St. Viator High School, Arlington Heights
Alana Dreimann, 16, Lake Forest High School, Lake Forest
Carlee Graham, 18, Carlinville High School, Carlinville
Karina Kedo, 18, Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette
Lauren Tasiopoulos, 17, Libertyville High School, Libertyville
Sebastian von Zerneck, 18, Peoria Notre Dame High School, Peoria
Ellen Wildman, 16, Geneva Community High School, Geneva
 

Indiana

State Honorees:

Elizabeth Niemiec, 17, Michigan City High School, Michigan City
Madison McCorkle, 12, Central Middle School, Kokomo
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Rachel Dalton, 18, Eastern High School, Pekin

Kaylin Fanta, 15, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, Chicago, Illinois

Nick Hebert, 18, Floyd Central High School, Floyd Knobs
Danielle Matthews, 17, North Decatur Junior/Senior High School, Greensburg
Madison Moyle, 18, Canterbury School, Fort Wayne
Nate Osborne, 17, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory, Indianapolis
 

Iowa

State Honorees:

Sarah Cronk, 17, Pleasant Valley High School, Bettendorf
Jungah Lee, 14, Stilwell Junior High School, West Des Moines
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Austin Ehlers, 18, Sioux Central Community High School, Sioux Rapids
Rachel Goering, 17, Cardinal High School, Eldon
Max McGee, 17, Washington High School, Cedar Rapids
Robert Pak, 18, Valley High School, West Des Moines
 

Kansas

State Honorees:

Jeffrey Hanson, 17, Horizon Academy, Roeland Park
Marleah Mullen, 14, Pleasant Valley Middle School, Wichita
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Gordie Hamilton, 17, The Pembroke Hill School, Kansas City, Missouri

Anna Lipscomb, 14, Heritage Christian Academy, Olathe
Tayler McCullough, 18, Rossville Junior/Senior High School, Rossville
Megan Rowe, 16, Blue Valley Southwest High School, Overland Park
 

Kentucky

State Honorees:

Jibril McCaster, 17, J.D. Patton Area Technology Center, Fort Mitchell
Lucy Duane, 13, St. Francis of Assisi, Louisville
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Rossi Clark, 17, Pulaski County Extension Service, Somerset
Katelyn Lux, 17, Presentation Academy, Louisville
Lindsey Stephens, 17, Pulaski County High School, Somerset
Rachel Stone, 17, Henderson County High School, Henderson
 

Louisiana

State Honorees:

Carrie Ingerman, 17, Episcopal High School, Baton Rouge
Neil Nathan, 13, Caddo Middle Magnet School, Shreveport
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Carter Boyd, 17, Loyola College Preparatory, Shreveport
Taylor Granger, 18, Hathaway High School, Jennings
Justin Magrath, 17, Fontainebleau High School, Mandeville
Daniel McFarland, 18, Lousiana State University AgCenter, Shreveport
 

Maine

State Honorees:

Ian Pelletier, 18, Deer Isle-Stonington High School, Deer Isle
Charlotte Eisenberg, 13, King Middle School, Portland
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Logan Lafayette, 17, Hampden Academy, Hampden
Andrew Schlebecker, 18, Camden Hills Regional High School, Rockport
 

Maryland

State Honorees:

Christina Antonini, 18, Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, Baltimore
Sareana Kimia, 12, Parkland Magnet Middle School, Rockville
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Kristy Choi, 17, Richard Montgomery High School, Rockville
Josephine Grant, 16, Francis Scott Key High School, Union Bridge
Meira Gunzburg, 17, Bais Yaakov of Baltimore, Baltimore
Tasha Robinson, 17, Francis Scott Key High School, Union Bridge
Clarissa Schilstra, 17, Mt. Hebron High School, Ellicott City
Adrianna Smith, 18, Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, Washington, D.C.
 

Massachusetts

State Honorees:

Julie Sargent, 17, Tahanto Regional Middle High School, Boylston
Taylor Leong, 12, Crisafulli School, Westford
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Marco DiBlasi, 13, Glen Urquhart School, Beverly Farms
Michael Gants, 18, Lexington High School, Lexington
Solomon Goldstein-Rose, 17, Amherst Regional High School, Amherst
Matthew Hershfield, 17, Sharon High School, Sharon
Moira Landry, 14, Swampscott Middle School, Swampscott
Hayley Morais, 17, Apponequet Regional High School, Lakeville
 

Michigan

State Honorees:

Emily Smith, 18, Seaholm High School, Birmingham
Phoebe Holmes, 13, Oakview Middle School, Oakview
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Thomas First, 18, Cassopolis Ross Beatty Junior/Senior High School, Cassopolis
Noelle Goffnett, 17, Mt. Pleasant High School, Mt. Pleasant
Craig Kaplan, 17, Lahser High School, Bloomfield Hills
Emily Mainguy, 17, Port Huron High School, Port Huron
Kylie Maxson, 17, Hamilton High School, Hamilton
Leena Raza, 17, International Academy, Troy
Chloe Smiley, 17, Clarkston High School, Clarkston
Zachary Zuzueta, 17, Traverse City West Senior High School, Traverse City
 

Minnesota

State Honorees:

Peter Larson, 17, Wayzata High School, Plymouth
Hayden Oliver, 13, Century Junior High School, Forest Lake
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Elaina Hamann, 17, St. Anthony Village High School, St. Anthony Village
Andrew Nguyen, 17, Coon Rapids High School, Coon Rapids
Sean Quinn, 17, St. John’s Academy, Lake Elmo
Alexandra Richardson, 17, Minnesota Children’s Museum, St. Paul
Walker Welch, 17, Kenyon-Wanamingo High School, Kenyon
Max Woodrich, 17, Thomas Jefferson High School, Bloomington
 

Mississippi

State Honorees:

Lucas Foley, 17, New Albany High School, New Albany
Gabrielle Spicer, 12, Ocean Springs Middle School, Ocean Springs
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Ashley Calcote, 17, HandsOn Gulf Coast, Gulfport
Holley Cunningham, 19, Resurrection Catholic High School, Pascagoula
Jake Dover, 17, South Panola High School, Batesville
Victoria King, 17, Presbyterian Christian School, Hattiesburg
 

Missouri

State Honorees:

Alexander Kehm, 16, Rockwood Summit High School, Fenton
Jacob Mozer, 14, Moreland Ridge Middle School, Blue Springs
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Selchia Cain, 17, Archbishop O’Hara High School, Kansas City
Niyonzima Etienne, 20, Rock Bridge High School, Columbia
Hannah Green, 17, Whitfield School, St. Louis
Caroline Levens, 17, Parkway Central High School, Chesterfield
Michael Pelts, 17, Warrenton High School, Warrenton
Amanda Riley, 17, School of the Osage High School, Osage Beach
 

Montana

State Honorees:

Kelsey Weyerbacher, 17, Custer County District High School, Miles City
Alyssa McCrossin, 13, Ravalli County 4-H Extension Office, Hamilton
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Terry Biere, 17, Montana State University Butte-Silver Bow 4-H Extension Office, Butte
Cassidy Cook, 18, Bozeman High School, Bozeman
 

Nebraska

State Honorees:

Kayla Blackwell, 17, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Extension Office of Douglas and Sarpy Counties, Omaha
Justine Bauer, 13, Elm Creek School, Elm Creek
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Brianna Brass, 17, Lincoln East High School, Lincoln
Sara Culey, 18, Kearney High School, Kearney
 

Nevada

State Honorees:

John-Henry Lambin, 18, JRJ School, Gardnerville
Jace Six, 13, Tonopah Middle School, Tonopah
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Angela Foremaster, 17, Legacy High School, North Las Vegas
Skyler Greenman, 17, Carson High School, Carson City
Kaylan Poindexter, 18, College of Southern Nevada High School – South, Henderson
Seth Roux, 17, Bishop Manogue Catholic High School, Reno
 

New Hampshire

State Honorees:

Taylor Levesque, 17, Trinity High School, Manchester
Chase Hughes, 13, YMCA of Greater Manchester, Manchester
 

Distinguished Finalists:

John Cicci, 18, Souhegan High School, Amherst
Jennifer Wright, 17, Nashua High School North, Nashua
 

New Jersey

State Honorees:

Rujul Zaparde, 16, The Lawrenceville School, Lawrenceville
Rocco Fiorentino,14, Voorhees Middle School, Voorhees Township
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Grace Farren, 17, Ranney School, Tinton Falls
Gabriella Handal, 14, Academy of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Franklin Lakes
Aileen Jiang, 18, Montgomery High School, Skillman
Michael Mandes, 16, United Way’s Volunteer Center of Atlantic County, Galloway
Jacob Silberg, 18, Columbia High School, Maplewood
Krithika Varagur, 17, John P. Stevens High School, Edison
 

New Mexico

State Honorees:

Kyle Swimmer, 17, Laguna Acoma High School, Casa Blanca
Scott Yarbrough, 13, Mountain View Middle School, Rio Rancho
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Serina Pack, 16, Grant County 4-H Extension Office, Silver City
Denali Wilson, 18, Mayfield High School, Las Cruces
 

New York

State Honorees:

Paarth Shah, 16, Horseheads High School, Horseheads
Sarah Connor, 11, Northport Middle School, Northport
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Stephanie Breed, 17, Fayetteville-Manlius High School, Manlius
John Farese, 17, Sayville High School, West Sayville
McKenna Heffner, 14, Girl Scouts of Nypenn Pathways, Cicero
Brian McPartland, 17, Brewster High School, Brewster
Robert Porco, 17, Southampton High School, Southampton
Kristen Rischert-Garcia, 16, Trinity School, New York
Daniel Ullman, 17, Blind Brook High School, Rye Brook
Alec Urbach, 15, New York Film Academy, New York
 

North Carolina

State Honorees:

Manasvi Koul, 18, Marvin Ridge High School, Waxhaw
Casey Sokolovic, 13, The Oakwood School, Greenvillle
 

Distinguished Finalists:

MacKenzie Kiger, 17, Ronald Regan High School, Pfaff Town
Maggie Medlin, 17, Greensboro Day School, Greensboro
Minali Nigam, 18, Marvin Ridge High School, Waxhaw
Dakota Palacio, 16, A.L. Brown High School, Kannapolis
Rasika Rajagopalan, 17, Charles Jordan High School, Durham
Tyler Strasser, 15, Mount Holly Middle School, Mount Holly
 

North Dakota

State Honorees:

Cara Mund, 17, Century High School, Bismarck
Lexy Grenier, 12, Schroeder Middle School, Grand Forks
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Kristen Meland, 17, Harvey High School, Harvey
Annika Vernon, 17, Hazen High School, Hazen
 

Ohio

State Honorees:

Joseph Melenick, 17, Bay High School, Bay Village
Mariah Faith Reynolds, 12, The School for Creative and Performing Arts, Cincinnati
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Taylor France, 17, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, Cincinnati
Robert Hendricks, 15, Rocky River High School, Rocky River
Lacy Keith, 17, Madison Junior/Senior High School, Middletown
Edward Osborn, 17, Bishop Ready High School, Columbus
Abigail Pawlak, 13, Mccord Junior High School, Sylvania
Sachin Rudraraju, 17, Delaware County 4-H Extension Office, Delaware
Cara Shaver, 15, St. Francis DeSales High School, Columbus
Sarah Young, 10, Highland County 4-H Extension Office, Hillsboro
 

Oklahoma

State Honorees:

Parth Singh, 16, Jenks High School, Jenks
Timothy Reeves, 12, Okmulgee County 4-H Extension Office, Okmulgee
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Katy Crocker, 16, Tulsa County 4-H Extension Office, Tulsa
Emily Morrow, 17, Cleveland County 4-H Extension Office, Norman
Kenneth Ramsey, 18, McAlester High School, McAlester
Sheyda Zakerion, 18, Union High School, Tulsa
 

Oregon

State Honorees:
Brandon Chambers, 18, American Red Cross-Oregon Pacific Chapter, Eugene
Zachary Odegard, 14, Polk County 4-H Extension Office, Dallas
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Keet Dailey, 15, Corvallis High School, Corvallis
Adrienne Engle, 17, Phoenix High School, Phoenix
Samuel Estes, 18, Blanchet Catholic School, Salem
Bobbi Sullivan, 12, da Vinci Arts Middle School, Portland
 

Pennsylvania

State Honorees:

Shoshanna Goldin, 17, Moravian Academy, Bethlehem
Hollywood Ruch, 14, Mechanicsburg Middle School, Mechanicsburg
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Eric Bellis, 11, Defranco Elementary School, Bangor
Tara Hedden, 17, Western Wayne High School, Lake Ariel
Breanna Lincoski, 17, California Area High School, Coal Center
Brian McWilliams, 16, PineRichland School District, Gibsonia
Lauren O’Grady, 17, Manheim Township High School, Lancaster
Kendall Ohrwashel, 17, Nazareth Area High School, Nazareth
Calista Pierce, 11, Maplewood Elementary School, Townville
Emily Zauzmer, 14, Upper Dublin High School, Ft. Washington
 

Rhode Island

State Honorees:

Jessica Scales, 17, Westerly High School, Westerly
Cassandra Lin, 12, Westerly Middle School, Westerly
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Priya Ghosh, 18, South Kingstown High School, South Kingstown
Marina Palumbo, 15, East Greenwich High School, East Greenwich
 

South Carolina

State Honorees:

Amanda Thomas, 17, T.L. Hanna High School, Anderson
Christian Hanna, 12, Black Water Middle School, Conway
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Misty Dillard, 17, Boiling Springs High School, Boiling Springs
Jasmyn Howell, 17, Hilton Head Island High School, Hilton Head
Luben Ikonomov, 17, American Red Cross - Upstate South Carolina Chapter, Greenville
Lacey Jones, 18, Summerville Family YNCA, Summerville
 

South Dakota

State Honorees:

Mariah Nelson, 17, Mitchell Christian School, Mitchell
Kiera Leddy, 13, Milbank High School, Milbank
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Kayla Pochop, 17, T.F. Riggs High School, Pierre
Sarah Szymonski, 17, Vermillion High School, Vermillion
 

Tennessee

State Honorees:

Kendall Gilfillan, 17, Brentwood High School, Brentwood
Kaitlyn Fox, 11, East Lake Academy, Chattanooga
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Alyssa Dugger, 18, Waverly Central High School, Waverly
Samuel Felker, 18, The Ensworth School, Nashville
Somer Greene, 17, Hutchison School, Memphis
Alexander Schoelkopf, 18, Memphis University School, Memphis
Ryan Schumacher, 18, Chattanooga Area Food Bank, Chattanooga
Jason van der Merwe, 17, Christian Academy of Knoxville, Home Study Program, Knoxville
 

Texas

State Honorees:

Justin Churchman, 18, Coronado High School, El Paso
Sharon Li, 13, Berry Miller Jr. High School, Pearland
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Zoe Albert, 16, Allen High School, Allen
Jack Barker, 13, Coppell Middle School West, Coppell
Lauren Bothwell, 18, Harlingen South, Harlingen
Nichole Davidson, 18, Permian High School, Odessa
Colman Flemons, 17, Brazoswood High School, Clute
Blue Hybner, 18, Shiner Catholic School, Shiner
Tess Michaels, 17, Plano West Senior High School, Plano
Alexis Pala, 17, Churchill High School, San Antonio
Vivian Tang, 18, Clements High School, Sugar Land
Haley Whatley, 16, Birdville High School, North Richland Hills
 

Utah

State Honorees:

Aimee Matheson, 17, Clearfield High School, Clearfield
Colten Lee, 13, Freedom Academy K-8 Charter School, Provo
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Jessica Gunderson, 17, Girl Scouts of Utah, Salt Lake City
Mackinzie Hamilton, 17, Mountain Crest High School, Hyrum
Jeffrey Scott, 18, Judge Memorial Catholic High School, Salt Lake City
Liana Tan, 17, Granger High School, West Valley City
 

Vermont

State Honorees:

Luke Drabyn, 18, Burr and Burton Academy, Manchester
Katherine Ham, 13, Servants Heart Academy, Sheffield
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Cherise Madigan, 17, Mt. Anthony Union High School, Bennington
Lauren Waller, 17, Mill River Union High School, North Clarendon
 

Virginia

State Honorees:

Priya Krishnan, 17, Thomas Jefferson High School, Alexandria
Ethan Cruikshank, 11, Chickahominy Middle School, Mechanicsville
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Steven Blakely, 17, Osbourn Park High School, Manassas
Jasmine Brown, 17, Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast, Chesapeake
Margo Diehl, 18, Riverbend High School, Fredericksburg
Nicole Muller, 17, Western Albemarle High School, Crozet
Katharine Nylund, 17, Virginia Episcopal School, Lynchburg
Jane Willner, 17, Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital, Washington, D.C.
 

Washington

State Honorees:

Logan Melander, 16, Stadium High School, Tacoma
Justin Peterson, 10, Gess Elementary School, Chewelah
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Bryan Cargill, 18, Curtis High School, University Place
Robert Case, 13, Adna Middle High School, Adna
Jennifer Hodgman, 17, North Thurston High School, Lacey
Andrina MacDonald, 13, Meeker Middle School, Tacoma
Jesse Sheldon, 16, Spokane County United Way, Spokane
Sarah Smith, 16, Juanita High School, Kirkland
 

West Virginia

State Honorees:

Lauren Lanier, 17, Point Pleasant High School, Point Pleasant
Kambria Price, 10, C.W. Shipley Elementary School, Harpers Ferry
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Tori Boggs, 18, Parkersburg High School, Parkersburg
Chelsea Hessler, 18, Morgan County 4-H Extension Office, Berkeley Springs
 

Wisconsin

State Honorees:

Nikhitha Murali, 17, Ashwaubenon High School, Green Bay
Rachel Ley, 14, P.J. Jacobs Junior High School, Stevens Point
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Jawad Arshad, 17, Brookfield Academy, Brookfield
Dylan DeLisle, 17, Kettle Moraine High School, Wales
Maria Georgen, 17, Xavier High School, Appleton
Molly Harvey, 17, Monona Grove High School, Monona
Michelle Kass, 18, Cedarburg High School, Cedarburg
Shaun Stokes, 17, River Falls High School, River Falls
 

Wyoming

State Honorees:

Colt Rauterkus, 18, University of Wyoming Lincoln County 4-H Extension Office, Afton
Truman Cox, 12, Cody Middle School, Cody
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Jenny Beiermann, 17, Sublette County 4-H Extension Office, Pinedale
Shelby Kindsvater, 17, East High School, Cheyenne
 

For more information on
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists,
visit
http://spirit.prudential.com.

Contacts:

Prudential Financial
Harold Banks
(973) 802-8974 (office)
(973) 216-4833 (cell)
harold.banks@prudential.com

Source: Prudential Financial

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