Iowa's Top Youth Volunteers Of 2019 Selected By National Program

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Samuel Sexe, 18, of Humboldt and Raegan Junge, 14, of Keystone today were named Iowa's top two youth volunteers of 2019 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. As State Honorees, Samuel and Raegan 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 four days of national recognition events. During the trip, 10 students will be named America's top youth volunteers of 2019. 

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, now in its 24^th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

These are Iowa's top youth volunteers of 2019:

High School State Honoree: Samuel Sexe

Nominated by Humboldt High School

Samuel, a senior at Humboldt High School, has responded to more than 200 service calls as a volunteer emergency medical technician in his rural community since completing the rigorous training required to become a member of the Humboldt County Memorial Hospital EMS squad. Samuel is carrying on a family tradition: His father has served as an EMT for more than 30 years, and all three of his siblings are EMTs as well. "I knew from my father's experience the lifelong impact an EMT can have," Samuel said. "I have many memories as a kid of some of his former patients stopping him in a grocery store or coming up to him at a restaurant to thank him for his service."

As soon as he turned 17, the minimum age to become an EMT in Iowa, Samuel began riding along on EMS calls to observe and help with non-technical tasks. At the same time, he enrolled in a five-month EMT program at a local community college, attending four-hour night classes two or three times a week while keeping up with his high school studies. At the end of the class, he had to pass three challenging tests in order to become certified. The following summer, Samuel spent 40 hours a week on his EMT duties, helping with everything from simple transports to multiple-casualty car accidents. Now, while in school, he has permission from his principal to respond to emergency calls during the school day if necessary. "There is a national shortage of EMTs, which especially affects rural services such as our own," noted Samuel. "I felt that becoming an EMT would be very beneficial to the community."     

Middle Level State Honoree: Raegan Junge

Nominated by Benton Community Schools

Raegan, an eighth-grader at Benton Community Schools, has raised nearly $50,000 over the past seven years to send relief supplies to victims of natural disasters across the United States and overseas, and to provide homeless veterans with essential items and an annual Christmas party. When she was 6, Raegan saw an elderly couple on TV who had just lost their home to a tornado in Joplin, Missouri. "I felt that I had to do something to help," she said. She began making beaded bracelets and setting them out at local stores, soliciting donations. When she had accumulated $1,600, Raegan and her family drove for eight hours to deliver the money to the homeless couple in Missouri. After seeing the destruction and despair in Joplin, "I knew this was something I wanted to continue to do," said Raegan.

She ramped up her bracelet-making initiative, and raised additional funds by seeking sponsors and hosting garage sales and other fundraising activities. With the support of friends, classmates, 4-Hers and members of her community, Raegan acquired hygiene items, flashlights, batteries, gloves, diapers, clothes and other things needed after disasters strike, and began shipping packages to places devastated by Mother Nature. With money left over, she purchased tents, blankets, hand-warmers, shoes and other items for veterans living on the streets or in shelters. She also throws a holiday party for local vets each year, complete with gift bags and a traditional Christmas dinner. "After almost eight years of helping, I have learned anything is possible," said Raegan.

Distinguished Finalists

The program judges also recognized four other Iowa students as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities. Each will receive an engraved bronze medallion.

These are Iowa's Distinguished Finalists for 2019:

Akash Gururaja, 17, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a senior at Linn-Mar High School, co-founded "Carnatic for a Cause," an organization that has raised more than $24,000 for community causes since 2015 by organizing a series of performances featuring young artists. The initiative, which has featured 75 performers at events in five cities, has benefited causes ranging from a local women and children's center to flood victims in Chennai, India.

Andee Joos, 18, of Mingo, Iowa, a senior at Baxter High School, is arranging to rescue and transport unsold, but still viable, produce and bakery items from her local grocery store to the Carlisle High School community pantry. Andee, who since 2015 has collected $5,000 to fight hunger through CROP Walk fundraising, is now arranging for volunteers to make deliveries to the pantry for her latest initiative--enriching the food options available to neighbors in need while reducing food waste.

Caroline McAlexander, 17, of Ellston, Iowa, a senior at Mount Ayr High School, has traveled throughout Iowa and taken to social media to inspire hundreds of elementary school students with her message of "Be Y.O.U." (Youthful, Observant and Unique). Motivated by the death of a close friend, Caroline created the educational program to encourage students to feel loved, to be kind, and to be comfortable stepping beyond traditional boundaries so they can truly be themselves.

Noah Wille, 17, of Polk City, Iowa, a senior at North Polk High School, created "Ornaments for Outreach," recruiting his friends to help transform plain wooden paint stirrers into Christmas decorations they sell to raise money for buying supplies for a local homeless shelter. He has raised more than $2,000 in two years and, in 2018 alone, bought and prepared 500 care packages with food and hygiene items to help the homeless and hungry of Des Moines.

"These young volunteers learned and demonstrated that they can make meaningful contributions to individuals and communities through their service," said Prudential CEO Charles Lowrey. "It's an honor to recognize their great work, and we hope that shining a spotlight on their service inspires others to consider how they might make a difference."

"Each of these honorees is proof that students have the energy, creativity and unique perspectives to create positive change," said JoAnn Bartoletti, executive director of NASSP. "We commend each of the 2019 honorees for their outstanding volunteer service, and for the invaluable example they've set for their peers." 

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 Points of Light's HandsOn Network, were eligible to select a student or member for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award. These Local Honorees were then reviewed by an independent judging panel, which selected State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists based on criteria including personal initiative, 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, meet top youth volunteers from other parts of the world, attend a gala awards ceremony at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural

History, and visit their congressional representatives on Capitol Hill. On May 6, 10 of the State Honorees – five middle level and five high school students – will be named America's top youth volunteers of 2019. These National 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 125,000 young volunteers have been honored at the local, state and national level. The program also is conducted by Prudential subsidiaries in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Ireland, India, China and Brazil. 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.

For information on all of this year's Prudential Spirit of Community State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists, 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 principals and other school leaders across the United States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student's potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student. 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 Student Council. Learn more at 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.

For Spirit of Community Awards program logo and medallion graphics, please visit https://spirit.prudential.com/resources/media

SOURCE Prudential Financial, Inc.

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