Connecticut's Top Two Youth Volunteers Selected in 11th Annual National Awards Program; Guilford and Greenwich Students Earn $1,000 Awards, Engraved Medallions and Trip to Nation's Capital.

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Honors Also Bestowed on Other Top Youth Volunteers in Connecticut

Elizabeth Americo, 17, of Guilford and Jack Appelbaum, 13, of Greenwich today were named Connecticut's top two youth volunteers for 2006 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. The awards program, now in its 11th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

Elizabeth was nominated by Guilford High School in Guilford, and Jack was nominated by Central Middle School in Greenwich. As State Honorees, each will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-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 and the District of Columbia for several days of national recognition events. Ten of them will be named America's top youth volunteers for 2006 at that time.

Elizabeth, a junior at Guilford High School, is the founder and president of a school club that raises awareness and funds to assist needy people both in her community and in third-world countries. Inspired by her older brother's volunteer work with Haitians, Elizabeth wanted to share with fellow students her empathy for the poor and her belief in the power to bring about change through activism. "I am deeply passionate about activism for social justice," she said. "Recognizing a common humanity shared by the people of this world, I feel that we all must struggle to erase the boundaries of indifference between rich and poor."

So as soon as she entered high school, Elizabeth formed a club called "Students for Health and Social Justice," dedicated to learning about poverty and community health issues, and taking action on them. Now with 21 members, the club meets regularly to discuss needs around the world, and to brainstorm ideas for fund-raising and awareness activities. The group has sponsored an annual dance benefit and other fund-raisers for health-care programs in Haiti, tsunami victims, UNICEF and other causes. Elizabeth and her fellow club members also organized a four-school food drive to help stock a local dining facility for the hungry. "Health is not a privilege for the few, but a right for all," Elizabeth said. "The fact that a majority of the world does not enjoy the benefits of this human right simply means that our job is not yet done."

Jack, an eighth-grader at Central Middle School, is a founding member of his school's chapter of "Building with Books," a national organization that raises money to build schools in developing countries. Jack initially learned about the organization from two teachers, and "I was hooked right away," he said. "When I learned that four-fifths of the world is illiterate, I wanted to make this number smaller. Just because these children, and even adults, were born into families in these villages and countries does not mean that they shouldn't be granted an education."

Jack immediately assumed a leading role in forming the club, attracting members, setting goals, and coming up with fund-raising ideas. During its first year, the club raised $4,000 to help build a school in Mali by hosting school parties and an after-school snack cart. In addition, the club has made blankets for kids in Africa and visited nursing home residents during the holiday season. "We get the satisfaction of knowing that we are making a difference, and we are forever changing lives for the better," said Jack.

In addition, the program judges recognized four other Connecticut students as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities. Each will receive an engraved bronze medallion:

Patricia Burns, 17, of Bristol, a senior at Bristol Eastern High School, created a Web site that provides volunteer opportunities for teenagers along with project ideas, tips, Web links, and testimonials from other teen volunteers. Patricia, who has volunteered in various ways since she was 12, created the site (http://home.comcast.net/~teens-lendahand) to present volunteering in a "cool" way that is appealing to others her age.

Jeremy Kaswer, 13, of Avon, an eighth-grader at Avon Middle School, revamped and expanded his school's recycling program as a member of the student council. Under Jeremy's leadership, the school not only increased the amount of material it recycles, but also raised $250 to purchase school supplies and heightened student awareness of environmental issues.

Zachary Smith, 18, of Stamford, a senior at Westhill High School, initiated an annual used-toy sale that has raised more than $10,000 over the past six years to aid needy families. Zachary said he started his toy sale because he felt so fortunate that he had been adopted as a baby into a family that was able to take care of all his basic needs.

Marybeth Tamborra, 17, of Salem, a senior at Norwich Free Academy in Norwich, founded a club at her school that sends a group of high school volunteers to a local middle school each week to teach geography to sixth-graders. Marybeth creates the weekly lessons and activities for the children, and arranges a variety of other activities to promote geographic knowledge and interest, including a "GeoBee" and geography competitions among local high schools.

"The recipients of these awards vividly demonstrate that young people across America are making remarkable contributions to the health and vitality of their communities," said Art Ryan, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial. "They truly deserve all of the praise and encouragement we can give them."

"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 them as they are wonderful examples of the high caliber of young people in our nation's schools today."

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 and Volunteer Centers, were eligible to select a student or member for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award this past November. Nearly 8,000 Local Honorees were then reviewed by state-level judges, who selected State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists based on criteria such as personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth.

While in Washington, D.C., the 102 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 8 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.

U.S. Senators Tim Johnson of South Dakota and Saxby Chambliss of Georgia will serve as co-chairs of the national selection committee. Also serving on the committee will be Ryan of Prudential; 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 Learn and Serve America at the Corporation for National and Community Service; 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 of NASSP; and two 2005 Prudential Spirit of Community National Honorees: Devin Cohen of Briarcliff Manor, N.Y., and Lindsey Williams of St. Joseph, Mo.

In addition to granting its own awards, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program will be distributing President's Volunteer Service Awards to nearly 4,200 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 of a broad initiative created by Prudential to encourage young people to become involved in community service. Other elements of the initiative include a community 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 volunteerism.

For information on all of this year's Prudential Spirit of Community State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists, visit www.prudential.com/spirit, or www.principals.org/prudential.

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 Society(TM), National Junior Honor Society(TM), and National Association of Student Councils(TM).

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