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

MADISON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jordyn Schara, 17, of North Freedom and Zach Harmon, 12, of New Berlin today were named Wisconsin'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. Jordyn was nominated by Reedsburg Area High School in Reedsburg, and Zach was nominated by New Berlin West Middle/High School in New Berlin. 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).

“One of the most memorable parts of volunteering is seeing the shelves full of items that I collected”

Jordyn, a junior at Reedsburg Area High School, created a nonprofit organization that collects and disposes of unused or unwanted pharmaceuticals so that they do not end up in the water supply, while raising awareness of prescription drug abuse. “What would you do if you discovered that your community’s drinking water contained traces of someone else’s birth control, antibiotics or heart medicine?” Jordyn asked. “I discovered that when we dump our unwanted or expired drugs down the drain or the toilet, they contaminate our groundwater!” As she researched this problem, she also learned that teens are increasingly abusing prescription drugs, which are often found in their own medicine cabinets. Jordyn decided someone needed to address these issues.

She contacted various government agencies, but none wanted to get involved, Jordyn said. So, she decided to take on the project herself. She started by seeking help from local police, healthcare professionals, hospitals, civic organizations, businesses, community leaders and teen volunteers. Then, she drafted a plan that could be replicated in communities across the country. When town officials decided not to apply for a state drug grant, Jordyn applied herself and obtained funds to purchase disposal containers and other supplies. She hosted several drug collection events, and began helping teens and adults in other communities start their own programs. Jordyn’s model is now being implemented in 17 states, and last year more than 376,000 pounds of prescription drugs were collected and safely disposed of. She also makes speeches and public service announcements about teen prescription drug abuse and has begun to distribute drug lock boxes so families can safely secure their medications.

Zach, a seventh-grader at New Berlin West Middle/High School, celebrates his birthday every year by conducting a food drive for a local food pantry, and last year alone delivered more than 4,500 pounds of food to feed hungry families. Zach got the idea for his annual “Z-Drive” when he saw the TV show “American Idol Gives Back.” “I was amazed at how many people were living so poorly and had nothing,” he said. Coincidentally, the very next day he saw a newspaper article about the local food pantry’s need for more food to fill its shelves. Zach asked his parents if he could use money he had just received for his birthday to buy food for the pantry. He called the facility to see what was needed, bought the items and delivered them. “I saw what a need there was,” he said. So, Zach decided to hold a food drive every April, the month of his birthday.

Zach started by spreading the word through email, word-of-mouth and posting flyers around town. To help, some of his classmates wheeled wagons door-to-door collecting food, some of his teachers held canned food drives in their classrooms and parents told their co-workers. Zach placed a bin at his front door for drop-offs and offered to pick up donations at people’s homes. Every year, he stores the donated food in his basement and, with the help of his family, sorts and weighs the food before delivering truckloads to the pantry. After the food drive is over, he plans for the next year by updating his computer with new contacts and sending thank you notes to donors. “One of the most memorable parts of volunteering is seeing the shelves full of items that I collected,” said Zack.

As State Honorees, Jordyn and Zach 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 six other Wisconsin students as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities. Each will receive an engraved bronze medallion:

Paige Bani, 17, of De Pere, Wis., a junior at West De Pere High School, has raised more than $13,000 to support the Tourette Syndrome Association through her program, “Connor’s Cause.” Paige, who wanted to raise awareness about Tourette syndrome because her younger brother has the disorder, has been trained as a youth ambassador and has given presentations to children, teachers and others.

Hunter Evenson, 17, of Galesville, Wis., a senior at Galesville-Ettrick-Trempealeau High School, raised $1,300 to benefit a scholarship fund in memory of his former piano teacher. Hunter, who also donated some of the funds to help restore the Old Main Community Center, raised the money by hosting a Christmas concert that showcased the talents of many local musicians.

Adam Hastings, 17, of Sussex, Wis., a junior at Hamilton High School, has helped to raise funds through annual haunted house events that benefit his former elementary school, St. Gabriel Catholic School. Adam, the only young person on the planning group, helps build and construct rooms in the haunted house, and also supervises a crew of 70 actors.

Makenzie Muehler, 17, of Sussex, Wis., a senior at Hamilton High School, is an active member of her youth group, “Student Life,” and has helped raise $2,000 to benefit Project Rescue, a group that fights human trafficking. Makenzie has also gone to Nicaragua on four separate mission trips where she and her fellow youth group members entertain children at a local church.

Matthias Olson, 18, of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., a member of the Door County 4-H, and a senior at Southern Door High School in Brussels, raised nearly $2,500 to provide livestock to farmers in third world countries through the organization God’s Global Barnyard. Matthias, who also volunteers for the local food pantry, raised the money by conducting presentations at churches and other community groups to raise awareness about the cause.

Brian Swiggum, 18, of Cashton, Wis., a senior at Cashton High School, has raised nearly $1,000 and collected 5,000 personal items to donate to the poverty-stricken children in Bogota, Colombia through the organization Children’s Vision International. Brian began making and placing donation cans in local stores in 2010 and has created partnerships with Walmart and Dollar General to collect needed items.

“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.