Two New Hampshire Youth Honored for Volunteerism at National Award Ceremony

Two New Hampshire students, Edward Zaremba, 18, of Hampstead and Colleen Slein, 14, of Salem, were honored in the nation’s capital last night for their outstanding volunteer work during the presentation of The 2009 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. The two young people – along with 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country – received $1,000 awards as well as personal congratulations from former First Lady Laura Bush at the 14^th annual award ceremony and gala dinner reception, held at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

Edward and Colleen were named the top high school and middle level youth volunteers in New Hampshire last February. In addition to their cash awards, they received engraved silver medallions and an all-expense-paid trip with their parents to Washington, D.C., for this week’s recognition events.

"The young people receiving these awards genuinely care about making a difference in the lives of others and have accomplished so much – in their own communities and around the world,” said Mrs. Bush, who delivered the keynote address at last night’s ceremony. "I thank and congratulate them for their outstanding volunteer work. Students with this kind of commitment and leadership ability are essential to the future of our nation.”

Edward, a senior at Pinkerton Academy in Derry, co-founded a club at his school that promotes acceptance of students with developmental disabilities by sponsoring social events throughout the year so that classmates with and without disabilities can have fun together. While representing their school in a statewide social entrepreneurial leadership challenge a few years ago, Edward and other freshmen decided to create a program that would benefit the disabled. Edward, who has a visual impairment, quickly assumed a leadership role. "I know what it’s like firsthand to be physically and uncontrollably different,” he explained.

The group met with teachers and administrators at their school, developed a plan, and formally established the "Just Like Us Club” the following year, with Edward appointed president. The club now organizes about 15 social events a year designed specifically to give individuals from special-education programs and the general student population the chance to socialize together. With more than 200 students participating in the club’s dances, sports activities, talent shows, and field trips, Just Like Us has become the school’s largest club. "Just Like Us has opened many doors and created so many friendships that prove everyone can fit in and have things in common,” said Edward. "Our title says it all.”

Colleen, an eighth-grader at St. Joseph Regional Catholic School, baked cookies and cupcakes every school night for two months and sold them at school the next day, raising $440 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Colleen learned about cystic fibrosis while writing a research paper on the disease, and was appalled by its tragic effects. "I felt the need to do something, to give of myself in some small way to make life easier for all those people suffering from the disease,” she said.

After obtaining permission from her school principal, Colleen started baking cookies, cupcakes, and Rice Krispie treats each night, wrapping them individually, and then selling them for 25 cents during snack time and lunch the next day. Sometimes her friends helped her bake and sell her treats, but often Colleen had to stay up late at night to finish her work. Colleen hopes the $440 she collected during her two-month effort will bring doctors a step closer to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis. "It is a tragic disease,” she said. "Although I may not be the person who finds the cure one day, I know that I did my part in helping out.”

"Edward and Colleen are inspiring examples of young Americans who care deeply about the needs of others and who have taken the initiative to help meet those needs,” said John R. Strangfeld, Chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc. "By honoring them, we hope not only to give them the recognition they so richly deserve, but also to inspire others to follow their example.”

Nearly 20,000 young people submitted applications for the 2009 awards program last fall through schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of the Points of Light Institute’s HandsOn Network. The top middle level and high school applicants in each state were selected in February, and were flown to Washington this week with their parents for four days of special recognition events.

Conducted in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards were created 14 years ago by Prudential Financial, Inc. to encourage youth volunteerism and to identify and reward young role models. Since then, the program has honored nearly 90,000 young volunteers at the local, state and national level.

"The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program is a fabulous partnership between NASSP and Prudential, allowing us to recognize the outstanding young people in our schools and communities,” said NASSP President Larry Bradley. "This year’s honorees exemplify the true spirit of helping others and by doing so they give America and the world a promising future, a future filled with compassion and hope.”

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards are supported by the American Association of School Administrators, the National Middle School Association, the National School Boards Association, the Council of the Great City Schools, Girl Scouts of the USA, National 4-H Council, the American Red Cross, YMCA of the USA, the Points of Light Institute, and other national education and service organizations.

More information about The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and this year’s honorees can be found at http://spirit.prudential.com or www.principals.org/prudential.

In existence since 1916, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the preeminent organization of and national voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and aspiring school leaders from across the United States and more than 45 countries around the world. NASSP’s mission is to promote excellence in school leadership. The National Honor Society®, National Junior Honor Society®, National Elementary Honor Society™, and National Association of Student Councils® are all NASSP programs. For more information about NASSP, located in Reston, Va., visit www.principals.org or call 703-860-0200.

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU) is a financial services leader with 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 approximately 50 million 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.news.prudential.com.

[Editors: full-color pictures of the Spirit of Community Awards program logo and medallions are available at http://spirit.prudential.com.]

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