WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Arizona's top two youth volunteers of 2015, Matthew Kaplan, 18, of Phoenix and Benjamin Meyer, 14, of Laveen, were honored in the nation’s capital last night for their outstanding volunteer service during the 20th annual presentation of The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Matthew and Benjamin – along with 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country – each received $1,000 awards and personal congratulations from “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts at an award ceremony and gala dinner reception held at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), named Matthew and Benjamin Arizona's top high school and middle level youth volunteers in February. In addition to their cash awards, they each received an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip with a parent to Washington, D.C., for four days of recognition events.
Matthew, a senior at Tesseract School, created a four-hour interactive educational program that is helping to discourage bullying among middle level students throughout Arizona and beyond. Several years ago, Matthew watched with dismay as his younger brother was bullied at school by former friends. The bullies weren’t bad kids, said Matthew, “yet, inexplicably, once they were armed with cell phones and social media, they launched words at him that were far more harmful than sticks and stones. I wanted somebody to make them understand the pain they were causing.” By the time Matthew had finished eighth grade, he realized that “somebody” would have to be him.
Recognizing that middle level students are particularly susceptible to peer pressure, Matthew began thinking of a way to “capture and reverse” that pressure, “so that students challenge each other to support rather than discourage each other,” he said. He developed a series of non-competitive group games, small-team challenges and guided discussions designed to foster empathy and mutual respect, and assembled them into a four-hour program called “Be ONE (Open to New Experiences).” Matthew has introduced the program to schools in Arizona, California, Virginia and Indiana; taken it to youth groups and libraries; and promoted it widely through speaking engagements and a TV public service announcement. Through his program, more than 3,500 students so far have been shown “they can wield their power to build each other up, rather than tear each other down,” said Matthew.
Benjamin, an eighth-grader at Emmanuel Lutheran School, helps stage patriotic shows for veterans and senior citizens at nursing homes, retirement facilities and veterans organizations as a volunteer with a nonprofit organization called The Arizona Swing Kids. “I wanted to be more involved in my community, and be part of something bigger than just myself,” said Benjamin in explaining why he joined the group in 2010. Plus, “I felt it was important to serve and give back to all those who fought in the military,” he said.
Benjamin often gives up a day of his weekends to practice or perform as one of the “Swing Kids.” During their shows, Benjamin and other young volunteers conduct a flag procession, and then perform songs and dances set to the music of the World War II and doo-wop eras. Afterwards, “we all go around and talk with the people and listen to their stories, shake their hands or give them hugs,” said Benjamin. In addition, Benjamin helps set up and take down microphones, speakers and other equipment before and after each performance. “We touch many hearts,” he said, “making people happy by remembering the ‘good old days’ and recognizing those who have served our country.”
“As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, we are delighted to recognize the 2015 honorees for their exemplary volunteer service,” said John Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc. “These young people have demonstrated leadership, compassion and perseverance, and we look forward to seeing all they accomplish in the future.”
“These honorees represent the best of what America’s youth have to offer,” said G.A. Buie, president of NASSP. “They have set a powerful example for their peers by proving that one young person really can make a difference, and it is a privilege to shine a spotlight on their good works.”
Youth volunteers in grades 5-12 were invited to apply for 2015 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards last fall through schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of the HandsOn Network. More than 33,000 middle level and high school students nationwide participated in this year’s program.
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program was created in 1995 to identify and recognize young people for outstanding volunteer service – and, in so doing, inspire others to volunteer, too. In the past 20 years, the program has honored more than 100,000 young volunteers at the local, state and national level.
For more information about The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and this year’s honorees, 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
For B-roll of Arizona's honorees at the 2015 national recognition events, contact Prudential’s Harold Banks at (973) 216-4833 or harold.banks@prudential.com.
