Top Youth Volunteers in Each State Selected in 12th Annual National Awards Program.

102 student volunteers earn $1,000 awards, silver medallions and trip to nation's capital

WASHINGTON -- America's 102 most outstanding youth volunteers - two from each state and the District of Columbia - were named State Honorees today by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for exemplary acts of volunteerism. The awards program, now in its 12th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial, Inc. in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

Each of the 102 State Honorees will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., May 5-8 for several days of national recognition events. Ten of them will be named America's top youth volunteers for 2007 at that time.

Nearly 30 percent of this year's State Honorees are being honored for assisting those who are sick or disabled. More than 25 percent conducted volunteer projects that aided the disadvantaged - both in their own communities and overseas - and approximately 10 percent earned their awards by teaching, tutoring or mentoring other young people. Other honorees are being recognized for extending a hand to senior citizens, protecting the environment, enhancing community resources, taking care of animals, and supporting U.S. soldiers and veterans. Information on the volunteer activities of all of the State Honorees can be found at www.prudential.com/spirit or at www.principals.org/prudential.

In addition to the State Honorees, the program's judges recognized 234 students nationwide as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities. Each will receive an engraved bronze medallion. Approximately 750 other applicants were awarded Certificates of Excellence for their volunteer work. (See attached list of State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists.)

"People as caring and committed as these young students are critical to the future of our neighborhoods, our cities and our nation," said Arthur Ryan, chairman and CEO of Prudential. "By recognizing these honorees, we hope to encourage other young people - our future leaders - and all Americans to think more about the value and importance of volunteering in their communities."

"NASSP is pleased to once again join Prudential in recognizing these young people for their amazing accomplishments," remarked Gerald N. Tirozzi, executive director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. "This year's honorees are proof that the youth of today are conscientious and capable of performing selfless acts of kindness in their local communities, on a national scale and at the global level."

Since The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards began in 1995, more than 75,000 young volunteers have been honored at the local, state or national level. Many prominent Americans have assisted in saluting these honorees over the years, including Jimmy Carter, Barbara Bush, Magic Johnson, John Glenn, Madeleine Albright, Rudy Giuliani, Whoopi Goldberg and Colin Powell. The program is now operating in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Ireland, as well as in the U.S.

All public and private middle level and high schools in the U.S., 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. More than 7,500 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 7 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.

Serving on the national selection committee will be U.S. Senator Norm Coleman…