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

SANTA FE, N.M. -- Lindsey Frick, 17, of Albuquerque and Logan Medlin, 14, of Tatum today were named New Mexico'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).

Lindsey was nominated by Sandia High School in Albuquerque, and Logan was nominated by Tatum Junior High School in Tatum. 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.

Lindsey, a senior at Sandia High School, created and administered a free summer reading and crafts program for young children at her local library, and then compiled an 80-page manual to help other teenagers start similar programs in their communities. Having volunteered for many years at local elementary schools and public libraries, "I noticed a lack of free or even affordable educational activities for children, so I decided to create my own," Lindsey said. "Many summer programs come with a hefty price tag, but by offering this free alternative to disadvantaged families, I offered children equal opportunities."

For two summers, Lindsey gathered kids from 3 to 8 years old for two hours a week, reading stories to them, helping them learn to read, and working with them on craft projects. "Many of the children expanded their creativity, imagination and love for reading," said Lindsey. "Other children learned developmental skills, and all of the children expanded socially by becoming less shy." During her programs, Lindsey continually jotted down thoughts and ideas in a notebook, which eventually led to the production of a comprehensive "how-to" manual filled with tips, charts, timelines and motivational sayings. Lindsey is making the manual available through her Girl Scout council's library to those who may be interested in replicating her program.

Logan, an eighth-grader at Tatum Junior High School, is an active volunteer and fund-raiser for a program that provides free meals to senior citizens in his small town. "I became involved in this activity because seniors play a big part in our community," said Logan, noting that older citizens often volunteer at his school or serve as substitute teachers. "I think this is extremely important because many seniors do not eat properly."

Logan's participation began a year ago when, at the encouragement of a mentor, he helped make and sell Christmas candles to benefit the seniors' meal program. He then donated ingredients and helped prepare pre-cooked meals to sell to busy families as another way to raise money for the program. Finally, Logan helped convert a cow pasture into a golf course for a benefit golf tournament. In all, Logan and other students working for the program have raised more than $2,000, which has gone to provide free meals to as many as 12 senior citizens daily. In addition to providing free meals, Logan's volunteer group is now offering to help the senior citizens in other ways, such as doing yard work. "People in small communities have to take care of each other," Logan said.

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

Eve Ahern Wild, 17, of Albuquerque, a junior at Albuquerque High School, organized her church's "Cookies for Prisoners" program, which baked, packaged and delivered 14,000 Christmas cookies to inmates at the Albuquerque jail. More than 2,400 prisoners each received a half-dozen home-baked cookies.

Kristen Biggins, 18, of Las Cruces, a junior at Mayfield High School, organized an effort at her school to "adopt" a high school on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi to help it recover from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Under Kristen's leadership, her school contributed textbooks, school supplies and money to help Pass Christian High School in Pass Christian, Miss., get back on its feet after the storm.

"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.