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

AUGUSTA, Maine, Feb. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Isabel Brennan, 18, of Yarmouth and Rebecca Hatt, 13, of Biddeford today were named Maine'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, Isabel and Rebecca 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 Maine's top youth volunteers of 2019:

High School State Honoree: Isabel Brennan
Nominated by Yarmouth High School

Isabel, a senior at Yarmouth High School, has been a leader in a local program that provides a nutritious breakfast and lunch, as well as supervised activities on summer weekdays, for kids whose families may not be able to afford three meals a day. When Isabel was a freshman, a friend told her about Lunch Crunch, a program designed to ensure that children who get free or subsidized meals at school don't go hungry during the summer. After signing on as a volunteer that first summer, "I quickly fell in love with the program," she said, noting that its participants come overwhelmingly from immigrant and low-income families in a relatively affluent city. "Lunch Crunch is more than just community service," she said. "It creates relationships and support systems between different groups of people in a town that does not often recognize these differences."

In her role as a Lunch Crunch leader, Isabel meets with adult leaders in the community prior to the start of the summer to coordinate and plan the program schedule. She and the person in charge of the district's food services design a daily menu that is both nutritious and cost-effective. Once the half-day program begins for the summer, Isabel picks up the food and brings it to the playground where the camp is held, coordinates that day's student volunteers as they play with and mentor the younger children, and helps with games, crafts and other activities. Each summer, between 25 and 30 children attend the camp, said Isabel. "Not only is every child fed both breakfast and lunch every day of the summer," said Isabel, "but relationships and memories are created for everyone that will be unforgettable."        

Middle Level State Honoree: Rebecca Hatt
Nominated by Biddeford Middle School

Rebecca, an eighth-grader at Biddeford Middle School, spearheaded a project to collect sanitary napkins and tampons for homeless women in her community. While searching for a project that her Girl Scout troop could undertake to help people, Rebecca came across a video on Facebook that addressed the fact that homeless women often lack access to feminine hygiene products. "Women's reproductive health is important," said Rebecca. "No one should have to choose between buying food for themselves and maintaining hygiene." As she researched the problem, she learned that more than 50,000 women in the U.S. live on the streets, and that it appeared that even in her own community the number of homeless women was growing.

So Rebecca persuaded her Girl Scout troop to join her in what she called "Project Confidence." They began by collecting bottles from school, family and friends, and then recycled them and used the proceeds to buy feminine hygiene products. The troop also hosted a carnival to raise funds, and clipped coupons to obtain store discounts. Once they had a supply of products, Rebecca and her fellow volunteers distributed them to a teen center, soup kitchens, churches and other organizations that work with low income and homeless women. Rebecca also took it upon herself to monitor the donations and replenish them as needed. Thanks to Rebecca's idea, her troop has distributed more than 100 packages of pads and tampons in her town to women who need them. "If they are homeless, then they are struggling to come up with enough money to eat," said Rebecca. "I think my project will help take one stress off of homeless women in my community."       

Distinguished Finalists

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

These are Maine's Distinguished Finalists for 2019:

Danica Haskell, 15, of Presque Isle, Maine, a freshman at Presque Isle High School, has been volunteering since 2013 at her local animal shelter, and has since donated about 250 hours of her time cleaning the facilities and socializing pets. Danica, who began her volunteering to prepare for getting a dog, has also supported the shelter through fundraising and her birthday gifts, and has recruited friends to volunteer, too.

Alicia Lawrence, 18, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, a senior at Cape Elizabeth High School, has spent two snow seasons using her background in competitive skiing to teach people of all ages with disabilities how to ski. Inspired to give back at the facility that's hosted her swim practices, she also volunteers with a local Boys & Girls Club, and instructs a robotics class there once a week during the school year.

"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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