Michigan's Top Two Youth Volunteers Selected in 17th Annual National Awards Program

LANSING, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Braeleigh Apley, 17, of Ann Arbor and Shayna Wierenga, 13, of Grand Haven today were named Michigan's top two youth volunteers for 2012 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. Braeleigh was nominated by Greenhills School in Ann Arbor, and Shayna was nominated by White Pines Middle School in Grand Haven. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, now in its 17th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

“We are so pleased to celebrate these student volunteers”

Braeleigh, a senior at Greenhills School, conceived and organized a “Princess & Pirate Day” at a local hospital to give young patients there an afternoon of fun and imagination. While volunteering at the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, Braeleigh “saw the value and need for (hospitalized) children to interact with younger people, besides doctors, parents and other adults,” she said. Since Braeleigh had run a summer “princess camp” for young girls for seven years, she thought she knew exactly how to give the young patients a brief reprieve from the stress and anxiety of their hospital stays.

Braeleigh developed a proposal for a “Princess & Pirate Day” at the hospital, and worked out the logistics with hospital administrators. She then recruited 20 teens from different schools to help her, and gave them training in patient safety and security. Partly with money earned from her princess camp, Braeleigh purchased supplies for the big event, and after weeks of planning, she and her helpers went to the hospital dressed in full princess and pirate costumes. They provided hats, wands, swords, capes and eye patches for the children and family members in attendance; helped them make fairy houses and treasure islands; played games; and paraded through the halls singing and laughing. Patients confined to their rooms received gift bags delivered by fairies. “I think it is important that we never lose touch with the imaginative side of their lives, especially if it can bring happiness to those who are suffering,” said Braeleigh.

Shayna, an eighth-grader at White Pines Middle School, has been volunteering at a local nursing home for the past five years, helps teach gymnastics and cheerleading classes for younger children, and is a member of a group at her school that works to prevent bullying and support students with disabilities. Shayna began volunteering at the Sanctuary at the Shore care facility when her great-grandmother became a resident there, and Shayna realized that “it really does make someone’s day just to have a conversation with them, and show them that you really care.” Although her great-grandmother passed away last summer, Shayna continues to spend an average of 12 hours a week at the nursing home, pushing wheelchairs, painting fingernails, and helping residents with other tasks that they are unable to do on their own.

Shayna also loves gymnastics and cheerleading, and now enjoys teaching children what she learned as a young girl. She helps a gymnastics coach teach 4- to 12-year-olds basic skills, and devotes one night a week to helping kids from 4 to 10 years old learn new cheerleading routines and cheer movements. In addition, Shayna has worked with a peer support group at her school for three years and has volunteered in a class for children with multiple impairments. “I love to volunteer my time,” said Shayna. “I think everyone should get involved in a fun program where they can enjoy themselves while giving back to their community.”

As State Honorees, Braeleigh and Shayna 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 several days of national recognition events. Ten of them will be named America’s top youth volunteers for 2012 at that time.

Distinguished Finalists

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

Sarah Ellis, 18, of Spring Arbor, Mich., a senior at Western High School in Parma, raised $5,000 through a five kilometer race that she planned and implemented with her twin sister to support Not For Sale, a project that aims to reduce human trafficking and slavery in Romania. Sarah, who recruited and managed twenty volunteers to help with event management, says the proceeds were used to help free victims of human trafficking, provide refuge for victims and raise awareness of slavery in Romania.

Jarrett Gorman, 17, of Orion, Mich., a senior at Lake Orion High School, helped raise more than $3,000 as one of the founders and coordinators of his school’s “Charity Week,” a week-long event featuring various projects to benefit those in need. Jarrett also has volunteered in many other ways, including for the local food bank, as a soccer coach and in his temple’s annual Mitzvah Day.

Katelyn Hill, 18, of Plymouth, Mich., a senior at Plymouth High School in Canton, has spent the past four years coordinating an Easter basket project on behalf of First Step, a local shelter. Every year, Katelyn solicits donations, recruits volunteers and packages at least 50 Easter baskets to give to young children staying at the shelter.

Sara Ma, 16, of Troy, Mich., a junior at Troy High School, founded the “Troy Chinese Dance Troupe” with nine friends to help break the stereotypes that Asian people are only smart and not graceful. Since founding the troupe in 2008, Sara has coordinated performances at many large and small venues, and has donated performance fees of more than $9,000 to local charities including the Red Cross.

Emily Maslovich, 13, of Alma, Mich., a member of the Gratiot County 4-H in Ithaca and an eighth-grader at Alma Middle School, has participated in a number of projects to help mentor young people, including tutoring children through Big Brothers Big Sisters. In addition, Emily teaches music at a summer camp, educates young people about healthy choices through her school’s “Fuel Up to Play 60” program, and teaches small animal showmanship through her 4-H.

Rachael Stein, 16, of Beverly Hills, Mich., a junior at Wylie E. Groves High School, is one of the founding members and the current president of her school’s Gay Straight Alliance. In addition to serving as national media ambassador for the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, Rachael is the youth director of the “Breaking the Silence Initiative,” for which she has coordinated anti-bullying presentations for interested kids and adults.

Andrea Trubiano, 17, of Goodrich, Mich., a senior at Goodrich High School, created the “Special Needs Fishing Derby and Family Fun Day” when she was only 10 years old to give children with special needs, like her brother, a day to have a good time and be themselves. Andrea, who solicits donations from local businesses and recruits volunteers through local Girl Scout troops, hosts this annual event that features carnival-style games and prizes for more than 200 kids with special needs.

Hilary Viegelahn, 18, of Rogers City, Mich., a senior at Rogers City High School, raised more than $8,000 for the organization Autism Speaks, through a 5K run/walk that she created and implemented in honor of her young nephew Jay, who is autistic. Hilary managed the entire event, including securing city approvals, recruiting and managing volunteers, soliciting sponsors, and promoting the event which Hilary plans to turn into an annual benefit.

“Through their selfless acts of service, these award recipients have greatly improved the lives of others,” said Prudential Chairman and CEO John Strangfeld. “We hope their stories and their dedication inspire other young people to do the same.”

"We are so pleased to celebrate these student volunteers,” said JoAnn Bartoletti, executive director of NASSP. “It’s important to highlight them as powerful examples of how young people can make a difference."

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 affiliates of HandsOn Network, were eligible to select a student or member for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award. More than 5,000 Local Honorees were then reviewed by an independent judging panel, which selected State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists based on criteria including personal initiative, creativity, 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, attend a gala awards ceremony at the Smithsonian’s National 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 7. 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.

Since the program began in 1995, more than 100,000 young volunteers nationwide have been honored by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards at the local, state or national level. The program also is conducted by Prudential subsidiaries in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Ireland and India. 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 spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit.

About NASSP

NASSP is the leading organization of and national voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and all school leaders from across the United States and more than 45 countries around the world. The association provides research-based professional development and resources, networking and advocacy to build the capacity of middle level and high school leaders to continually improve student performance. Reflecting its longstanding commitment to student leadership development as well, 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, investment management, and real estate services. 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 http://www.news.prudential.com/.

Editors: Graphics depicting the award program’s logo and medallions may be downloaded from spirit.prudential.com.