How does the program work?
Applications are solicited each fall through more than 40,000
public and private middle-level and high schools, and through
officially designated local organizations across the country.
These organizations include Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American
Red Cross chapters, YMCAs, and affiliates of HandsOn Network.
Local Honorees are selected at participating schools and organizations
in November, and from these winners, two State Honorees are chosen
in each state and the District of Columbia. Meet the 2008
State Honorees. Finally, 10 National Honorees are picked by a
panel of prominent judges, and announced at a special ceremony
in Washington, D.C., in May. Meet the 2008 National Honorees.
Who is eligible?
Any young person who:
· Is in grades 512 as of the last weekday in October
during the applying year, in any state or the District of Columbia.
· Has engaged in a volunteer activity that occurred at
least partly during the 12 months prior to the date of application.
· Completes an application form following all directions
carefully, and submits it to a school principal or the head of
an officially designated local organization by the last weekday
in October.
(Employees of NASSP, Prudential, or any of its affiliates,
and any firm involved in the program, their children, and previous
National Honorees are not eligible. Previous State Honorees are
eligible only if their submitted activities are significantly
different from previously honored activities.)
What qualifications must be met?
The application:
· Must describe an individual community service activity
or an individual's significant leadership in a group activity
that has taken place during the previous year.
· Must be completed and submitted to a school principal
or the head of an officially designated organization by the last
weekday in October.
· Must be certified by the principal of a middle-level
or high school or the head of an officially designated local organization.
These individuals should review implementation instructions carefully.
What do Honorees win?
· Local Honorees receive a Certificate of Achievement
from their schools or organizations. Those who qualify (50
hours of service for age 14 and younger, 100 hours for those older)
also receive the President's Volunteer Service Award.
· State Honorees receive an award of $1,000, an engraved
silver medallion, and an all-expenses-paid trip with a parent
or guardian to Washington, D.C., for national recognition events.
· National Honorees receive an additional award of
$5,000, an engraved gold medallion, a crystal trophy
for their schools or organizations, and a $5,000 grant from The
Prudential Foundation for a nonprofit, charitable organization
of their choice.
Who else is involved?
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards are supported by:
· Girl Scouts of the USA
· National 4-H Council
· American Red Cross
· YMCA of the USA
· HandsOn Network
· American Association of School Administrators
· America's Promise
· Council of the Great City Schools
· Key Club International
· National Association for Music Education
· National Middle School Association
· National School Boards Association
· National School Public Relations Association
· United National Indian Tribal Youth
Meet the 2008 National Honorees
Meet the 2008 State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists
What are the important dates?
October 31, 2008
Student application deadline
November 7, 2008
Deadline for schools and officially designated local organizations
to select and certify Local Honorees for state-level judging
February 10, 2009
Judging results are announced by NASSP and Prudential.
May 2 5, 2009
National recognition events in Washington, D.C.
Kentucky and Tennessee state winners of $1,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C. for 2007 were:
Katelyn Bowles, 17, of Mount Sterling, Ky., a senior at Montgomery County High School, initiated and spearheaded the renovation of the historic Mt. Sterling C&O Train Depot, rallying fellow students to take on the project and securing $200,000 in grants to pay for it. "One day, my mother and I were driving down the road in downtown Mt. Sterling," said Katelyn. "I looked over and noticed for the first time the disgrace our dilapidated train depot had become. I thought it was preposterous that such a historic building in our community was rotting to waste, and I decided to restore it."
At the suggestion of her mother, a Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) adviser, Katelyn led fellow FBLA members in preparing a business proposal and making presentations to gain the backing of local government agencies, then succeeded in obtaining a variety of grants, including $153,000 from the Kentucky Transportation Department. With a full year of work already behind her, Katelyn recruited carpentry students in her school's SkillsUSA club to do the actual renovation work, which is scheduled to be completed next year. The project, involving more than 200 volunteers altogether, is not only "assuring that part of our history and heritage is restored," said Katelyn, but also "proving that teens are capable of doing what they put their minds to."
Riley Miller, 14, of Bowling Green, Ky., an eighth-grader at Drakes Creek Middle School, has raised $50,000 over the past three years for childhood cancer research by organizing a citywide day of lemonade sales. After Riley's little brother lost his battle with leukemia, she "realized how important it is to make a difference in the short time we have here," she said. While visiting her brother in the hospital, Riley had learned about another young cancer patient, Alex Scott, who founded Alex's Lemonade Stands to raise money for pediatric cancer research. "I wished I could do something like that," said Riley. "I really wanted to help these families and children." So Riley decided to host an Alex's Lemonade Stand and asked friends and business owners to help. She received so many offers that she was inspired to put up stands all over town and involve the whole community in her fund-raising project.
Riley set a date for her event, assigned stand locations to volunteers, contacted the news media, made signs and flyers, walked door-to-door to tell people about the sale, and secured supply donations. On Bowling Green's third annual Alex's Lemonade Stand Day last July, Riley managed 200 volunteers and 29 stands, and collected more than $19,000, to bring her three-year total to $50,000. "It was a great day," she said. "I have never felt such pride and sense of being as when I am working hard to help others."
Distinguished Finalists
Victoria Engelhardt, 17, of Paducah, Ky., a senior at Reidland High School, created and operates the Friendship Club Jr. for children ages 3 to 7 at her church during Sunday evening services. Under Victoria's supervision, the children learn Bible stories, make crafts, play games, and eat snacks while their parents attend church services.
Bennett Heine, 14, of Louisville, Ky., an eighth-grader at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic School, has organized a number of service projects through his school's social awareness group to benefit immigrants and refugees around the world. Bennett's efforts have included feeding and tutoring newly arrived immigrant youth at a local community center, raising money for genocide victims in Darfur and for Doctors Without Borders, and conducting a community letter-writing campaign to help spread awareness of the situation in Darfur.
Cameron Lile, 15, of Hardyville, Ky., a ninth-grader at Barren County High School's Trojan Academy in Glasgow, started a chapter of Jarrett's Joy Cart and collected thousands of toys to deliver to sick children at local hospitals once a month. Cameron was inspired to begin this project after hearing about the Joy Cart's founder, Jarrett Mynear, who died after an 11-year battle with cancer.
Andrew Thompson, 16, of Robards, Ky., a junior at Henderson
County High School in Henderson, created a small park with benches
and flower planters to enhance the beauty of his community. Andrew
obtained the necessary approval for his project, raised $1,500
to purchase materials, and recruited fellow Boy Scouts and other
community members to help with the manual labor.
Click here to see all of the 2007 high school award winners and what they did to win.
Click here to see all of the 2007 middl school award winners and what they did to win.
In addition to granting its own awards, the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program will be distributing President's Volunteer Service Awards to nearly 4,150 of its Local Honorees this year on behalf of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. 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. The program is part of a broad youth-service initiative by Prudential that includes a youth leadership training program administered by the Points of Light Foundation; a free booklet of volunteer ideas for young people offered through the Federal Citizen Information Center; and a Web site featuring profiles of outstanding youth volunteers, volunteer tips and project ideas for students, an electronic newspaper on youth volunteerism, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions in the areas of:
Eligibility Q&A
Application Q&A for students
Application Q&A for schools/local organizations
Cash Awards and Honors Q&A
Dates and Deadlines Q&A
Judging Q&A
National Event Q&A
Click here for questions and answers for the above areas of interest.
Contact Information
For additional information about this award program, call 800-253-7746, ext. 324, or e-mail spirit@principals.org.