New Jersey's Top Youth Volunteers Of 2019 Selected By National Program

TRENTON, N.J., Feb. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Czarina Alfonso, 16, of Clifton and Rylee Howerton, 13, of Vineland today were named New Jersey'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, Czarina and Rylee 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 New Jersey's top youth volunteers of 2019:

High School State Honoree: Czarina Alfonso
Nominated by Academy of the Holy Angels

Czarina, a junior at Academy of the Holy Angels, started a program that has provided free pneumonia vaccinations to hundreds of daycare-age children in the Philippines over the past two summers. As the daughter of Filipino parents, Czarina has visited the Philippines during her summer vacations and seen firsthand that many people there do not have ready access to health care. She also appreciated the importance of vaccines, having watched her father struggle with polio. Those two experiences led her to develop a program called "Give It a Shot," which raises money to vaccinate Filipino kids in need against pneumonia, one of the leading causes of death in the island nation. "This program helps me to do something meaningful for the country where the majority of my family lives, and for my heritage," said Czarina.

She initially conducted extensive research to determine which vaccine would do the most good. Then, during her freshman year in high school, she raised $8,000 to vaccinate 145 children. She coordinated with health officials in the province of Antipolo Rizal to disseminate information about the vaccinations and obtain parental consent. Then she found a local pediatrician to store the vaccine and administer the shots. The next year, Czarina raised enough money for 200 vaccinations. Each summer, she attends the vaccinations and assists in filling out paperwork and calming the children after they receive their injections. "I remember a mother hugging me after her son and daughter were vaccinated, and explaining how they had walked two hours in the heat to come to my program," said Czarina. "That made me realize how much of a difference it was making." 

Middle Level State Honoree: Rylee Howerton
Nominated by Lincoln Avenue Middle School

Rylee, a seventh-grader at Lincoln Avenue Middle School, educates people on the importance of using words that do not offend others, through speaking engagements, public service announcements, appearances at community events and a children's book that she wrote. "I am a 13-year-old girl who has autism," said Rylee, "and I don't like when people say 'retarded'." In fact, when she heard two girls use that term at a dance recital, "I was so hurt and went home crying," she said. "That night I decided I would do everything I possibly could to teach others to choose the right words so no one has to feel like I did at the dance recital."

"Choose the Right Words" became the name of Rylee's initiative. She puts a lot of effort into arranging speaking engagements to urge audiences to be thoughtful when referring to someone's disability, race, religion or sexual orientation. After her speeches, she asks her listeners to sign pledge cards vowing to use sensitive language. Rylee also has recorded public service announcements that have aired on a local radio station and on her school's morning announcements. In addition, she wrote a children's book to use as a companion teaching tool, and further promotes her message by setting up booths at community events and utilizing social media. "There's too much hurt in the world," said Rylee. "I want hurtful words to one day be extinct from everyone's vocabulary."

Distinguished Finalists

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

These are New Jersey's Distinguished Finalists for 2019:

Rohit Agrawal, 18, of Raritan, N.J., a senior at Bridgewater Raritan High School, works to spread awareness of opioid addiction, and help foster kids affected by the opioid crisis, by volunteering with "Visions and Pathways," a network of foster homes in central and northern New Jersey. Rohit writes articles for the network's social media, serves on an opioid prevention committee, mentors kids in the foster system, and helped organize an annual 5K fundraiser for the organization.

Jocelyn Cullen, 17, of Oceanport, N.J., a junior at Shore Regional High School, launched an initiative that, over the past four years, has taught more than 100 kids how to swim and stay safe in pools or the ocean. Jocelyn recruited fellow members of her club swim team to help her administer swimming lessons and water safety clinics, raised funds to make pool repairs and sponsor a swim club member, and worked with a Boys & Girls Club to integrate her swim instruction into its after-school program.

Alyssa Lego, 16, of Toms River, N.J., a sophomore at Donovan Catholic High School, used $15,000 in proceeds from a fashion show she hosted to develop programs for schools, children's hospitals and community venues that enhance public understanding of autism, and benefit children on the autism spectrum. Inspired by her brother, who has special needs, Alyssa has spoken at school assemblies and other events, visited hospitals, and distributed more than 1,000 sensory toys to kids with special needs.

Annika Marks, 17, of Rio Grande, N.J., a junior at Wildwood Catholic High School, has conducted an annual paper drive during the West Cape May Christmas Parade since 2010, gathering toilet paper, tissues and paper towels for people in her community who cannot afford to buy them. Annika and classmates push shopping carts along the parade route each year and now collect enough paper products from spectators to stock two food pantries for an entire year.

Khadija Moody, 17, of Paterson, N.J., a senior at Rosa L. Parks Arts High School, has played a leading role in numerous service projects in her community, including a school beautification project in which students painted murals on the walls of more than 20 schools in Paterson. Khadija also has helped lead volunteer activities over the years at local shelters, food pantries, community cleanup events and other project sites.

Zachary Olszewski, 18, of Audubon, N.J., a senior at Audubon Jr-Sr High School, leads a team of 65 high school students that raises more than $50,000 a year for the Ronald McDonald House at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where he was treated for Meniere's disease and a brain lesion. Zachary, who currently serves as president of the house's Teen Advisory Council, personally developed an annual bowling fundraiser called "Spare Some Love," and has participated in many other events that have raised millions of dollars for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

"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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