WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vermont's top two youth volunteers of 2015, Alexina Federhen, 18, of Bennington and Abigail Jacunski, 13, of Colchester, 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. Alexina and Abigail – 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 Alexina and Abigail Vermont'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.
Alexina, a senior at Mount Anthony Union High School, makes jewelry to raise money for endangered species, collects stuffed animals for children and senior citizens, campaigns against bullying, and participates in many other volunteer activities. As a very young child, Alexina began helping her mother foster abused, sick and feral cats as well as orphaned birds. “I have always had a passionate commitment to protecting animals, not only abused or homeless domestic pets, but also endangered species,” said Alexina. “I find the act of helping others, furry, feathered or human, very gratifying.”
To advance her interest in protecting animals, Alexina began making custom jewelry with her mother, selling necklaces, earrings and bracelets at craft fairs, arts cooperatives and on eBay. The proceeds are donated to organizations that work to preserve the habitat of endangered species such as the Canadian Lynx and the Luna moth. Alexina also collects stuffed animals from classmates, local families and thrift stores, and delivers them to children in foster care, homeless shelters, hospitals and disaster zones; and to nursing homes and memory care centers. In addition, Alexina draws upon her own experience as a victim of bullying to speak out against this abusive behavior. She created a PowerPoint presentation to alert adults to the signs and impact of bullying and to offer strategies for intervention, and is establishing forums for students to discuss the issue.
Abigail, an eighth-grader at Mater Christi School, participated with her church youth group in two fasts to help feed the hungry, a service mission trip to address several local needs, a “sleep out” to provide mosquito nets for Africans, and a project to make bicycles available in third-world countries. “My youth group leader was a huge inspiration to go out of my comfort zone and try to help people,” said Abigail. “I feel that doing volunteer work is important because that is how you make the world a better place.”
Abigail took part in two 30-hour fasts to raise money for World Vision, and during the fasts, bought nutritious food for low-income families, made sandwiches for homeless people, and collected food for a local food shelf. “The most difficult part of the 30-hour fast was to put yourself in others’ shoes and realize that a lot of people are hungry,” she said. On her mission trip, Abigail helped make dinner for families at a Ronald McDonald House, prepare snacks for kids at vacation Bible school, and stuff envelopes for an urban ministry fundraising appeal. In addition, Abigail slept outside in an “Imagine No Malaria” sleep-out, and helped process bikes for a program that sends them overseas to people needing basic transportation. “What is better than helping another person?” said Abigail.
“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 Vermont's honorees at the 2015 national recognition events, contact Prudential’s Harold Banks at (973) 216-4833 or harold.banks@prudential.com.
