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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPrudential Spirit of CommunityFebruary 8, 2005 THE PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT OF COMMUNF The Honorable John E. Johnson PO Box 10 Laurel, MT 59044-0010 Dear Mayor Johnson: { O, We thought you'd like to know that Courtney Atwood of Laurel is being named today as one of your state's top two youth volunteers for 2005, in the tenth annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. This is an extraordinary honor; more than 20,000 young people across the country were considered for recognition this year. As a State Honoree, Courtney will receive a $1,000 award, an engraved silver medallion, and a trip to Washington, D.C., April 30-May 3 for a series ofnationaI recognition events. A copy of the news release announcing this prestigious honor is enclosed. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, created by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), constitute America's largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteerism. The awards are designed to emphasize the importance our nation places on service to others, and to encourage young Americans of all backgrounds to contribute to their communities. Students like Courtney represent the best of America's youth, and are role models to their peers and their communities. We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to extend your congratulations and encouragement. You can contact your honoree at 304 Mountain View Lane, Laurel, MT 59044-2047, (406) 628-4757. You also may want to consider inviting your honoree to talk about volunteering and the importance of community service at an upcoming city council meeting, proclaiming a special day of recognition, or issuing an official statement of commendation (suggested language is included). During the May events in Washington, ten National Honorees will be named, each of whom will receive an additional $5,000 award, a gold medallion and a crystal trophy. Your State Honoree is among those being considered for these national awards. If you would like additional information, please call (973) 802-4568 or write to us at spirit@prudential.com. Congratulations for having such an outstanding young person in your city. Sincerely, Arthur F. Ryan Chairman and CEO Prudential Financial Gerald N. Tirozzi Executive Director NASSP 751 Broad Street · 16th Floor · Newark, NJ 07102 · (973) 802-4568 · Fax (973) 802-4718 TI-Il PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT O1~ COMMUNITY AWARDS February 8, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Harold Banks, Pmdemial Financial (973) 802-8974 Michelle White, NASSP (703) 860-7344 MONTANA'S TOP TWO YOUTH VOLUNTEERS SELECTED IN l0th ANNUAL NATIONAL AWARDS PROGRAM Conrad and Laurel students earn $1,000 awards, engraved silver medallions and trip to nation's capital Honors also bestowed on other top youth volunteers in Montana HELENA, Mont. - Trent Zempel, 18, of Conrad and Courmey Atwood, 13, of Laurel today were named Montana's top two youth volunteers for 2005 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts ofvolunteerism. The awards program, now in its 10th year, is conducted by Pmdentiai Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). More than 20,000 high school and middle level students submitted applications for this year's program. Trent was nominated by Conrad High School in Conrad, and Courmey was nominated by Laurel Middle School in Laurel. As State Honorees, each will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expanse-paid trip in early May to Washington, D.C., where they will join the top two honorees - one middle level and one high school youth - from each of the other states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico for several days ofnationai recognition events. Ten of them will be named America's top youth volunteers for 2005 at that time. more - MONTANA'S TOP TWO YOUTH VOLUNTEERS SELECTED/Page Two Trent, a junior at Con,ad High School, has tutored and mentared younger kids in a church- sponsored youth group and in a school program for the past two years. While participating in his church's youth group, Trent was asked to help out temporarily with younger children in the program, and quickly agreed. "After my first week I realized that they could use some extra help every week, so I began to come every week," Trent said. Each Wednesday evening, Trent helps the students read, comprehend and memorize verses, while trying to keep them focused and under control. Since many of the boys are from single- family homes with no fathers present, Trent also serves as a role model who could set an example for them and help them with problems in their lives. "It was important to me because each child got to learn what it means to be a person of character," he said. Trent also gives up his study-hall time at school once a week to mentor a struggling middle level student. "It just feels good when you help someone that you know can't pay you back with money or services," Trent said. "They can pay you back tenfold with the thanks that they give in return." Courmey, an eighth-grader at Laurel Middle School, raises funds and works as a volunteer camp coumelor for disabled and autistic students. Courtuey decided to volunteer after she developed a friendship with a classmate's autistic older sister. "Before I met her, I thought autistic and disabled children and adults were odd," said Courtuey. But she soon discovered otherwise. "They are the same as you and I," she said. Courmey learned about the summer camp through her friend, and thought it would be fun to work there. Once she had been trained as a counselor, Courtney spent every day working one- un-one with a physically challenged camper. Her responsibilities included staying with the camper at ail times, taking him or her to the park, assisting at lunch, playing games and other activities, and most of ail making sure that the camper had fun. Courmey also sold cookies to provide pocket money for campers attending a local fair. On the last day of camp, she was named "volunteer of the year." "I felt good because I knew that what I had done over the summer made others happy," said Courmey. In addition, the program judges recognized two other Montana students as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive cornmunity service activities. Each will receive an engraved bronze medallion: - more - MONTANA'S TOP TWO YOUTH VOLUNTEERS SELECTED/Page Three Gwendolyn Duncan, 18, ofLavina, a senior at Broadview Public School in Broadview, tutored and mcntored three first-graders who were struggling emotionally, socially and academically. Using her obedience-trained dog as a link, Gwendolyn encouraged healthy ways of relating through group reading and tutoring sessions. She also helped build their confidence by teaching them how to lead her dog through a series of obedience tasks and tricks. Judith Duncan, 18, of Lavina, a senior at Broadview Public School in Broadview, tutored and mentored young children with disabilities. Judith helped with homework, played games, read, worked on social skills, and partnered with her obedience-trained companion dog to help students build confidence, along with communication and coping skills. "Over the past 10 years, we've seen an incredible number of young Americans who have selflessly devoted their time and energy to helping others in their communities," said Arthur F. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial. "The volunteer work of this year's honorees is as inspiring as any we've seen, and we are honored to recognize the amazing contributions they've made to their neighborhoods, their cities and our nation." "Year after year I am mazed and humbled by the selfless leadership and generosity demonstrated by these young people," said Gerald N. Tirozzi, executive director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. "We are proud to recognize young people who fully understand the importance of belping others in need." All public and private middle level and high schools in the country, as well as all Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs, Camp Fixe USA councils and Volunteer Centers, were eligible to select a student or member for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award this past November. Local Honorees were then reviewed by state- level judges, who selected State Honoreas and Distingu/shed Finalists based on criteria such as personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth. While in Washington, D.C., the 104 State Honorees will tour the capital's landmarks, attend a gala awards ceremony at the Smithsonian 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 an additional $5,000, a gold medallion and a crystal trophy, and will have $25,000 in children's products donated in each of their names to needy ckildran in their communities by Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc., the national charity of the children's apparel and products industry. - more - MONTANA'S TOP TWO YOUTH VOLUNTEERS SELECTED/Page Four U.S. Senators Ben Nelson of Nebraska and George Allen of Virginia will serve as co-chairs of the national selection committee. Also serving on the committee will be Ryan of Prudential Financial; actor Richard Dreyfuss; Alma Powell, chair of America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth; Robert Goodwin, President and CEO of the Points of Light Foundation; Amy B. Cohen, Director of Leam and Serve America at the Corporation for National and Community Service; Marsha Johnson Evans, President and CEO of the American Red Cross; Kathy Cloninger, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA; Donald T. Floyd Jr., President and CEO of National 4-H Council; Ken Gladish, National Executive Director of YMCA of the USA; David Vodila, President-Elect of NASSP; and two 2004 Prudential Spirit of Community National Honorees: Elyse Monti of East Greenwich, ILL, and Erin Rosen-Watson of Natick, Mass. In addition to granting its own awards, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program will be distributing President's Volunteer Service Awards to nearly 3,500 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 program is supported by National 4-H Council, Girl Scouts of the USA, American Red Cross, YMCA of the USA, Points of Light Foundation, American Association of School Administrators, National Middle School Association, National School Boards Association, Council of the Great City Schools, National School Public Relations Association, and many other national youth and service organizations. The awards are part cfa broad initiative created by Pmdenrial to encourage young people to become involved in commnnity service. Other elements of the initiative include a ¢omm~lnity leadership training program for high school students, now administered by the Points of Light Foundation; and a variety of educational materials for young people and teachers relating to youth voluntearism. For information on all of this year's Prudential Spirit of Community State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists, visit www.prudential:conffspirit, or www.principals.org/awards/ prudential.olin. - more - MONTANA'S TOP TWO YOUTH VOLUNTEERS SELECTED/Page Five NASSP - the preeminent organization and the national voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals and aspiring school leaders - provides its members the professional resources to serve as visionary leaders. NASSP promotes the intellectual growth, academic achievement, character development, leadership development, and physical well-being of youth through its programs and student leadership services. NASSP administers the National Honor SocietyTM, National Juaior Honor SocietyTM, and National Association of Student CouncilsTM. Prudential Financial companies serve individual and institutional customers worldwide and include The Prudential Insurance Company of America, one of the largest life insurance companies in the United States. These companies offer a variety of products and services, including life insurance, mutual funds, annuities, pension and retirement related services and administration, asset management, securities brokerage, banking and trust services, real estate brokerage fl~anchises and relocation services. For more information, visit www.pmdantial.com. Sample Statement of Commendation To Recognize Honoree In The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards However effective government may be in serving the needs of its citizens, the soul of our city and Rs vitality as a place to live and work depend on the relationship of families, friends and neighbors. Strengthening those bonds is not as much in the hands of institutions or governments as it is in the hearts of the people - individuals who volunteer to help people of all ages, races and religions cope with illnesses, overocoroe hardships and barters, adjust to social changes, and fulfill their potential. These volunteers are the unrecognized, unsung heroes of our society. (Name ofhonoree), recently named as one of our state's top honorees in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, exemplifies the value of volunteer community service, and is a role model to other youth as well as adults in our commullity. A surprising number of voluntecrs in communities across the nation are like (student's first name), a student contributing time without expectation of reward, other than the gratification that comes from helping others. Some of these young people work in established groups; others seek new and unique ways to help others on their own. Recognizing these young volunteers and encouraging others to follow their example is the aim of this nationwide program conducted by Prudential Financial and the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Its aim is to reach into every commurdty, in all 50 states, the District of Columbla and Puerto Rico, to identify and honor these unsung heroes locally, state-by-state, and then nationally, in the hopes that their recognition will serve to stimulate others to volunteer service. As mayor of (city), and on behalf of our city, I commend (student), our Prudential Spirit of Community Award honorec, for (his/her) outstanding volunteer contribution to others and our community. And, therefore, in honor of this achievement, I am proclaiming (day/date) as the (stadent)/Pmdential Spirit of Community Recognition Day in (city).