Ryan Hopkin, 17, of Powell and James Etier, 13, of Rock Springs today were named Wyoming's top two youth volunteers for 2008 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. The awards program, now in its 13th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
Ryan was nominated by Powell High School in Powell, and James was nominated by Rock Springs East Junior High School in Rock Springs. As State Honorees, 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 – one middle level and one high school youth – from each of the other states and the District of Columbia for several days of national recognition events. Ten of them will be named America’s top youth volunteers for 2008 at that time.
Ryan, a senior at Powell High School, improved safety conditions for young children by installing crosswalk flags at dangerous intersections around three elementary schools. “One day while I was driving with my mother, I witnessed a young boy almost get hit by a car while trying to cross the street,” explained Ryan. “Since that time I wanted to find a way to help these children make their trips back and forth from home to school safer.” Ryan soon found an answer on a family trip to Salt Lake City, where he saw canisters containing neon-orange flags at busy intersections for pedestrians to carry when crossing the street.
Ryan presented a plan for a similar system to school and city leaders in Powell. With their approval, he worked with city officials, school principals and parent organizations at Powell’s three elementary schools to develop a list of locations. Ryan solicited donations to purchase materials, and then recruited help from family members and his Boy Scout troop to make canisters and mount them on posts at crosswalks. The city’s street superintendent agreed to purchase and post instructional signs at the crosswalks, and finally, Ryan delivered flags to the principals of the elementary schools with a letter explaining how to use them. “I believe these flags will make pedestrians more visible and will help drivers realize they are responsible for stopping for pedestrians,” said Ryan.
James, an eighth-grader at Rock Springs East Junior High School, has participated in a wide range of volunteer activities that have benefited more than 100 people in his community. James started volunteering when he joined an after-school program. As a participant in that program, James has walked dogs, cleaned cages and fed homeless animals at a Humane Society shelter. He sorted paper at a recycling center, read to young children at an elementary school, and volunteered with the Salvation Army at Christmastime. James also has picked up trash, pulled weeds and washed windows for senior citizens, and has visited elderly residents at a local nursing home. “I tried to make people’s days easier either by trying to bring smiles while reading to the little kids or visiting the elderly at our nursing home,” he said. “I try my best to help.”
In addition, the program judges recognized two other Wyoming students as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities. Each will receive an engraved bronze medallion:
Elizabeth Whetstone, 18, of Cheyenne, a senior at East High School, designed and implemented a fund-raising and volunteer program to support the Cheyenne Safehouse, a domestic violence shelter. Elizabeth directed more than 30 student volunteers in seven projects that raised $5,000 for the shelter.
Walter Wilson, 17, of Albin, a senior at Burns Junior/Senior High School in Burns, has raised close to $35,000 for the American Cancer Society over the past two years by starting an annual student Relay for Life event in his community. His extensive volunteer resume also includes highway cleanups, youth camp counseling, hurricane relief efforts, fund-raising for the homeless and other service activities.
“Over the past 13 years, we’ve seen an incredible number of young Americans who have selflessly devoted their time and energy to helping others in their communities,” said Arthur F. Ryan, chairman of Prudential Financial. “The volunteer work of this year’s honorees is as inspiring as any we’ve seen, and we are honored to recognize the amazing contributions they’ve made to their neighborhoods, cities and nation.”
“Congratulations to this year’s state winners in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards,” stated Gerald N. Tirozzi, executive director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. “The hard work and determination that these students have exhibited in trying to make a difference in the lives of others is remarkable.”
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 Volunteer Centers, were eligible to select a student or member for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award this past November. Nearly 4,500 Local Honorees were then reviewed by state-level judges, who selected State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists based on criteria such as personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth.
While in Washington, D.C., the 102 State Honorees will tour the capital’s landmarks, attend a gala awards ceremony at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, and visit their congressional representatives on Capitol Hill. In addition, 10 of them – five middle level and five high school students – will be named National Honorees on May 5 by a prestigious national selection committee. These 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.
Co-chairing the national selection committee will be U.S. Senators John Kerry of Massachusetts and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, and Arthur Ryan of Prudential. Also serving on the committee will be actor Richard Dreyfuss; Alma Powell, chair of America’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth; Michelle Nunn, president and CEO of the Points of Light & Hands On Network; Amy B. Cohen, director of Learn and Serve America at the Corporation for National and Community Service; Kathy Cloninger, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA; Donald T. Floyd Jr., president and CEO of National 4-H Council; Kathryn Forbes, national chair of volunteers, American Red Cross; Neil Nicoll, CEO of YMCA of the USA; Michael Cohen, president and CEO of Achieve, Inc.; Barry Stark, president of NASSP; and two 2007 Prudential Spirit of Community National Honorees: Kelly Davis of West Bath, Maine, and Kelydra Welcker of Parkersburg, W.Va.
In addition to granting its own awards, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program will be distributing President’s Volunteer Service Awards to nearly 2,800 of its Local Honorees this year on behalf of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. The President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country.
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards represent the United States’ largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteer service. The program is part of a broad youth-service initiative by Prudential that includes a youth leadership training program administered by the Points of Light & Hands On Network; a free booklet of volunteer ideas for young people offered through the Federal Citizen Information Center; and a Web site featuring profiles of outstanding youth volunteers, volunteer tips and project ideas for students, an electronic newspaper on youth volunteerism, and more (www.prudential.com/spirit). The Spirit of Community Awards program also is conducted by Prudential subsidiaries in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Ireland.
For information on all of this year’s Prudential Spirit of Community State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists, visit www.prudential.com/spirit, or www.principals.org/prudential.
NASSP is the preeminent organization and the national voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals and aspiring school leaders. NASSP provides its members the professional resources to serve as visionary leaders. NASSP promotes the intellectual growth, academic achievement, character development, leadership development, and physical well-being of youth through its programs and student leadership services. NASSP administers the National Honor Society™, the National Junior Honor Society™ and the National Association of Student Councils™.
Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Leveraging its heritage of life insurance and asset management expertise, Prudential is focused on helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth. The company’s well-known Rock symbol is an icon of strength, stability, expertise and innovation that has stood the test of time. Prudential’s businesses offer a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds, investment management and real estate services. For more information, visit www.prudential.com.