Maryland's Top Two Youth Volunteers Selected in 11th Annual National Awards Program; Columbia and Kensington Students Earn $1,000 Awards, Engraved Medallions and Trip to Nation's Capital; Honors Also Bestowed on Other Top Youth Volunteers in Maryland.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Erica Esposito, 16, of Columbia and Elissa Redmiles, 11, of Kensington today were named Maryland'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).

Erica was nominated by Glenelg Country School in Ellicott City, and Elissa was nominated by The Learning Community International in Columbia. 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.

Erica, a junior at Glenelg Country School, plans events and activities to help hospitals enhance their neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). While volunteering at a local hospital over the past few summers, Erica was struck by the stressful environment of the NICU, where babies born prematurely or with other health problems are cared for. The families of these tiny patients often face months of hospitalization and years of special needs, said Erica, plus the "unfamiliar sights, sounds and equipment as well as the busy atmosphere can be very overwhelming."

Knowing that one's environment can have a big impact on the healing process, Erica began developing a project called "Ahead of Our Time" to help make NICUs less stressful and foster good relationships between the units and the families of their patients. She has recruited schoolmates, local Girl Scout troops, and NICU staffers to help brighten the facilities with artwork and photo albums, and has raised money for a series of monthly events. Her biggest undertaking was a reunion at the University of Maryland Hospital for "graduates" of its NICU and their families, which drew more than 200 attendees. She plans to host reunions for NICUs at other hospitals, and to expand her project eventually to include hospitals across the country.

Elissa, a sixth-grader at The Learning Community International, has provided packages of baby blankets and other infant items to hundreds of needy mothers and their newborns over the past five years. Elissa can pinpoint the beginning of her "Baby Blanket Project" to a January morning in 2000. "I was thinking about all of the things I had, and the mothers and babies all over the world who had hardly any of these things," she said. After discussing this with her mother, Elissa decided that there were six basic items that every baby should have: a blanket, bottle, bib, book, booties or socks, and a toy.

She began a letter-writing campaign seeking donations from family members, friends and others in her community. As contributions come in, Elissa shops for her six basic items, bundles them into individual packages and then contacts hospitals or other organizations that serve pregnant mothers needing financial assistance. So far, she has collected $2,500 and many donated supplies, enough to deliver packages to more than 300 mothers in America and Israel. "It really is a magical thing to think that you have made many people experience a little joy in their hard lives," said Elissa.

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

Kailyn Cage, 17, of Mitchellville, a senior at Largo High School in Upper Marlboro, created a fitness program to help adults and young people better understand how to live healthy lifestyles. Kailyn met with the participants weekly, created a workout and menu plan for each individual, and monitored their progress.

Christina Constantinides, 17, of Damascus, a member of the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital in Washington, D.C., and a senior at Damascus High School, designed a classroom lesson on dental health and taught it to third-graders at three local elementary schools. Christina created lesson plans, activities, posters, games, teaching aids and models for her project, and then donated the materials to the schools for future use.

Molly Gates, 17, of Great Mills, a senior at Great Mills High School, developed and directed a theatrical workshop to provide a creative outlet to elementary-school children who are not involved in sports, dance or music. Molly recruited several volunteers to help her conduct the workshop and produce a play for 22 young participants.

Allison Lewis, 16, of Potomac, a junior at Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville, created "Computers for Seniors," a program that teaches basic computer skills to senior citizens at three retirement facilities. Allison, who worked closely with a fellow student at her school, recruited and trained volunteers, obtained funding for the program, worked out arrangements with the facilities, and devised methods to make computers easy for seniors to understand and use.

Melissa Weinberger, 17, of Waldorf, a senior at Westlake High School, developed a program called REACH (ReEducate And Change History) to provide positive role models for elementary-school children who are at risk of failing in school. Melissa recruited volunteers to share their specialties with the children, and taught the kids team-building skills, respect, charity, and how to improve their self-esteem.

Russell Yaffe, 17, of Bethesda, a senior at Walter Johnson High School, organized an annual summer basketball camp for 8- to 15-year-old boys and girls in his neighborhood. Russell, who started the camp when he was 11, serves as its director and head coach, oversees three counselors, and coordinates all aspects of the camp.

"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).

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 franchises and relocation services. For more information, visit www.prudential.com.