Top Youth Volunteers in Each State Selected in 14th Annual National Awards Program

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2009 — 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 14th 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., May 2-5 for several days of national recognition events. Ten of them will be named America’s top youth volunteers for 2009 at that time.

In addition to the State Honorees, the program's judges recognized 234 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.)

More than 28 percent of this year's State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists are being honored for volunteer projects that assisted people who are sick or disabled. Another 28 percent earned awards for aiding the disadvantaged – both in their own communities and around the world, while 9 percent were cited for protecting the environment or taking care of animals. Six percent are being recognized for tutoring or mentoring other young people or encouraging them to read, and more than 4 percent conducted activities in support of American service members. Other honorees are being recognized for promoting health and safety, extending a hand to senior citizens, enhancing school or community resources, providing disaster relief, and performing other types of service. Information on the volunteer activities of the honorees can be found at spirit.prudential.com or at www.principals.org/prudential.