Recognizing Middle and High School Students for Volunteer Service in their Communities

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards is a nationwide program for young people in grades 5-12 who are volunteering in their local communities. If you have made a difference by volunteering in your community or taking part in community service activities over the past year, you could win $1,000 and a fabulous trip to Washington, D.C., next May -- by applying for a Prudential Spirit of Community Award! Even more importantly, you could win recognition that might inspire other young people to follow your example. These prestigious awards, sponsored by Prudential Financial and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, have honored more than 80,000 middle level and high school students over the past 13 years solely for their volunteer work.

How to Apply for the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards:

1. Visit http://www.prudential.com/spirit, click on the application link, and follow the on-screen instructions. When asked for the access key, type the word spirit.

2. Once you have completed your online application, print it out, sign it, and have a parent sign it.

3. Submit your printed application to the school office to be placed in the Guidance mailbox.

4. The school will select one or more Local Honorees from the applicants to be recognized locally for their service, and recognized as role models for all of our students at the school.

5. The school with then nominate and submit the most deserving applicant for state-level judging.

If you need a paper application form or would like more information, call 1-877-525-8491 toll-free.

All state-level honorees will be announced in February. The top middle level and high school applicant in each state, called State Honorees, will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip with a parent to Washington, D.C., next May 2-5.

From two to ten runners-up in each state, called Distinguished Finalists, will get bronze medallions. Other state-level winners will receive Certificates of Excellence.

Finally, ten of the State Honorees will be named America's top ten youth volunteers of the year in Washington, D.C., in May. These National Honorees are awarded an additional $5,000, gold medallions, crystal trophies and $5,000 grants for the charities of their choice.

In addition, all Local Honorees who have contributed the minimum qualifying number of hours to their volunteer activities will receive the President's Volunteer Service Award.

The deadline for submitting your application to the school office is Friday, October 31, 2008.

(Challenge yourself to submit your application before the deadline date!) Thank you for your volunteer efforts and for serving your community and your fellow citizens!

To Those Who do not Qualify to Apply this Year:

If you do not qualify to apply for this award this year, go to their web site and get some ideas for volunteering so you can apply for this award next year!! They have lots of good ideas for volunteering! And don't just do it for the awards and recognitions. Do it for the self-satisfaction of knowing that you did something to help others!