Nebraska's Top Two Youth Volunteers Selected in 21st Annual National Awards Program
Lincoln and Omaha students earn $1,000 awards, engraved medallions and trip to nation’s capital
Distinguished Finalists also named in Omaha and Lincoln
LINCOLN, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- My'Kah Knowlin, 14, of Lincoln and Golden Kelly, 13, of Omaha today were named Nebraska'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. My'Kah was nominated by Lincoln High School in Lincoln, and Golden was nominated by Russell Middle School in Omaha. 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).
My'Kah, a freshman at Lincoln High School, formed a network of student role models and mentors at nine schools throughout Nebraska to help stop bullying and support victims. After years of being bullied herself, My’Kah believed that the only way to stop it was to commit suicide. “I couldn’t see any other way out,” she said. But she was lucky enough to have a strong support system, and instead resolved to provide other victims of bullying with the support she had benefited from. “I want to make sure that no one feels suicide is their only choice, but to know there are others out there who want to stand beside them and help them get through the hard times,” said My’Kah.
Because she felt that sharing personal stories of bullying would be key to helping other victims, My’Kah named her initiative “My STORIES,” which is also an acronym for “Students Teaching Others Respect, Independence, Empowerment and Strength.” She began recruiting students in her school and other schools to reach out to kids being bullied, offer to stand beside them, teach them how to document and report incidents, and bolster their self-respect. In one instance, My’Kah intervened directly to help save a young girl from taking her own life. “I may not be able to protect all students,” she said, “but I will stand up to those I see trying to hurt others, and I will continue to educate those who want to help.”
Golden, a seventh-grader at Russell Middle School, has personally raised nearly $14,000 for the American Cancer Society over the past nine years as co-captain of a team participating annually in the society’s Relay for Life fundraiser. Goldie became aware of cancer at a very young age. She watched a friend battle a brain tumor, and saw three grandparents diagnosed with malignant melanoma. So by the time she was just 4 years old, Goldie wanted to help fight the disease by forming a fundraising team with her sister.
Goldie has raised more than $1,000 every year with her Relay for Life activities. She has sold clothing and toys at garage sales, sold lemonade and cookies, and marketed headbands and flip-flops throughout the year. She also has asked for donations rather than gifts on her birthday, and has twice donated her hair to make wigs for cancer patients. In addition, Goldie participates in a walk for juvenile diabetics, and plays bingo at least once a month with residents of a retirement home. “I love to give and make people smile,” she said.
As State Honorees, My'Kah and Golden 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 Nebraska students as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities. Each will receive an engraved bronze medallion.
These are Nebraska's Distinguished Finalists for 2016:
Grace Kelly, 18, of Omaha, Neb., a senior at Millard West High School, is the president of her school’s Health Occupation Students of America chapter, and has helped to organize numerous blood drives to support the American Red Cross. Grace, who wants to pursue a career in medicine, has also been an active participant in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life fundraiser since she was 9 years old, raising $15,165 to help fund cancer research.
Tabitha Staehr, 18, of Lincoln, Neb., a senior at Lincoln Southwest High School, founded the “Schuyler Peterson Toy Drive Foundation” in 2009 to honor the memory of her best friend Schuyler, and has since collected and distributed more than 2,500 toys to children in need. Tabitha, who hosts annual birthday celebrations on Schuyler’s birthday where she asks attendees to bring toy donations, also hosts an annual Christmas party for which she recruits volunteers to help with tasks including collecting, sorting and wrapping gifts for children.
“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.
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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.