West Virginia's Top Two Youth Volunteers Selected in 21st Annual National Awards Program
Daniels and Fayetteville students earn $1,000 awards, engraved medallions and trip to nation’s capital
Honors also bestowed on youth volunteers in Morgantown
CHARLESTON, W.Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sofia Salon, 16, of Daniels and Arin Dorsey, 13, of Fayetteville today were named West Virginia's top two youth volunteers of 2016 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. Sofia was nominated by Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley, and Arin was nominated by Girl Scouts of Black Diamond in Charleston. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, now in its 21st year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
Sofia, a sophomore at Woodrow Wilson High School, organized a 16-hour rocking chair “rock-a-thon” on June 20, 2015, that drew considerable attention in southern West Virginia to the battle against Alzheimer’s disease and raised more than $17,000 for Alzheimer’s research and care. “After watching my grandma having struggles being a caregiver for my grandfather, I was motivated and determined to do something to make a difference for families coping with Alzheimer’s,” said Sofia. She heard that the Alzheimer’s Association promoted various kinds of fundraising activities across the country each year on the summer solstice, and decided she would take part in “The Longest Day” event by creating a rock-a-thon.
Sofia persuaded the Raleigh County Commission on Aging to help with her event and lend its facilities. Then she invited teams from across southern West Virginia to raise money and participate in the rock-a-thon. From 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on June 20, the teams and other participants rocked in rocking chairs, danced, sang karaoke, played games, and bid in a silent auction. “The most memorable part was when my grandpa sang karaoke, after dancing with my grandma twice,” said Sofia. When it was all over, she had collected $17,258 to fund Alzheimer’s research at West Virginia University and to support caregivers and medical workers in her state, making her one of the nation’s top 10 “Longest Day” fundraisers for 2015.
Arin, an eighth-grader at Fayetteville High School, organized a “Milk and Cookies with Santa” event to entertain local children and solicit donations of toys and money for the homeless. Arin became interested in homelessness after meeting a fellow Girl Scout who was homeless at one time. She began to research the subject, and contacted the administrator of a local homeless shelter to learn more about the needs of its clients. Then Arin asked her Girl Scout council to help her hold a holiday event that not only would delight local youngsters, but also collect donations to brighten the season for homeless people.
Arin distributed invitations through schools to 800 children, secured space from a local church, arranged for donated cookies and decorations, and recruited a Santa Claus and other adults to help manage her event. Afterwards, Arin gathered all of the donations, assembled “care packages” of food and toys, and delivered them to the 130 residents of the Pinehaven Homeless Shelter. “At this point, I learned how donations and giving help reduce their feelings of loneliness and abandonment,” said Arin.
As State Honorees, Sofia and Arin 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 from each of the other states and the District of Columbia for four days of national recognition events. During the trip, 10 students will be named America’s top youth volunteers of 2016.
Distinguished Finalists
The program judges also recognized two other West Virginia students as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities. Each will receive an engraved bronze medallion.
These are West Virginia's Distinguished Finalists for 2016:
Olivia Haddad, 18, of Morgantown, W.Va., a senior at University High School, has been an avid volunteer since 2011 for Christian Help, a nonprofit organization that provides food, clothing and other support for families and individuals in need. Over the years, Olivia helped to unpack, ship and organize items and assist at special events, and today she has a leadership role in the Women’s Career Closet at the center, helping women find business clothes and shoes for interviews.
Roark Sizemore, 17, of Morgantown, W.Va., a senior at Morgantown High School, raised $13,300 to benefit the Children’s Hospital of West Virginia by conceiving and implementing a danceathon at his school. Roark, who is a volunteer at the hospital where he reads to young patients, recruited his high school service club to help coordinate the event, secured the National Guard Armory as a location for the dance, and partnered with the Children’s Miracle Network for the event.
“Prudential commends each of these young volunteers for using their creativity and compassion to bring positive change to their communities,” said Prudential Chairman and CEO John Strangfeld. “We hope their stories inspire others to consider how they can make a difference, too.”
“We are pleased to honor these students not only for their exemplary acts of service, but for the powerful example they’ve set for their peers,” said JoAnn Bartoletti, executive director of NASSP. “Congratulations to each of the 2016 honorees.”
About The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards represents the United States’ largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteer service. 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 HandsOn Network affiliates, were eligible to select a student or member for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award. These Local Honorees were then reviewed by an independent judging panel, which selected State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists based on criteria including personal initiative, effort, impact and personal growth.
While in Washington, D.C., the 102 State Honorees – one middle level and one high school student from each state and the District of Columbia – will tour the capital’s landmarks, meet top youth volunteers from other parts of the world, attend a gala awards ceremony at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, and visit their congressional representatives on Capitol Hill. On May 2, 10 of the State Honorees – five middle level and five high school students – will be named America’s top youth volunteers of 2016. These National 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.
Since the program began in 1995, more than 115,000 young volunteers have been honored at the local, state and national level. The program also is conducted by Prudential subsidiaries in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Ireland, India, China and Brazil. In addition to granting its own awards, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program also distributes President’s Volunteer Service Awards to qualifying Local Honorees on behalf of President Barack Obama.
For information on all of this year’s Prudential Spirit of Community State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists, visit http://spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit.
About NASSP
The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and school leaders from across the United States and 35 countries around the world. The association connects and engages school leaders through advocacy, research, education, and student programs. NASSP advocates on behalf of all school leaders to ensure the success of each student and strengthens school leadership practices through the design and delivery of high quality professional learning experiences. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Association of Student Councils. For more information about NASSP, located in Reston, VA, visit www.nassp.org.
About Prudential Financial
Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential’s diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management. In the U.S., Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit www.news.prudential.com.
Editors: For full-color pictures of the Spirit of Community Awards program logo and medallions, click here: http://bit.ly/Xi4oFW
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Prudential Financial
Harold Banks, (973) 802-8974 or (973) 216-4833
[email protected]
Source: Prudential Financial, Inc.