Georgia's Top Two Youth Volunteers Selected in 21st Annual National Awards Program

Devneet Singh, 17, of Duluth and Damacia Howard, 13, of Union City today were named Georgia's top two youth volunteers of 2016 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. Devneet was nominated by Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology in Lawrenceville, and Damacia was nominated by Georgia Cyber Academy in College Park. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, now in its 21st year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

Devneet, a junior at Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology, served as a mentor, teacher and friend to young refugees from Bhutan while working as a lead volunteer coordinator in Atlanta for SEWA, an international humanitarian organization. She became involved after meeting one of SEWA’s Atlanta chapter chairmen and learning of the need for young adult volunteers. “Half of all refugees are children subject to war, religious persecution and famine,” said Devneet. “I couldn’t help but be motivated by such adversity.”

During the summer months, Devneet taught classes on math, science, history and language to Bhutanese students ranging from 5 to 17 years old. She also planned fun games, brought books and snacks, advised on personal hygiene, and provided information on public transportation. After one of her students expressed astonishment at being given a pencil to keep, Devneet organized a car wash that raised $300 for school supplies. She also served as vice president of a 5K run that raised $7,000 for SEWA’s animal rights campaign. Devneet compiled photographs and video footage from her experience into a promotional video to recruit additional volunteers. “I am passionate about this relief effort,” said Devneet, “because it is a way that I can directly aid the children of refugees, immigrants and other hard-pressed members of the international community.”

Damacia, a seventh-grader at Georgia Cyber Academy, has collected thousands of books in her community for students in Africa, working with a national charity called Books for Africa. Damacia was looking for a community service project to take on in conjunction with her membership in the National Junior Beta Club and her title of 2015 Miss Georgia Pre-Teen Spokes Model. She researched possible projects with her mother, and upon learning that books are desperately needed in Africa, she knew she’d found her mission. “Education is important,” she said, “and when help can be given to children in other countries, I feel those of us that can help should.”

Damacia started by packing up books out of her own collection, and then asked friends and family members for help. She spoke to middle school students about her effort, obtained some publicity on a radio program and set up a collection drive at her church. All of the books she collected were turned over to Books for Africa to be shipped overseas. In addition to providing a valuable educational resource to African kids, Damacia’s project has helped emphasize “what a privilege it is to have access to books via libraries, schools, electronic devices and bookstores,” she said. “Knowing that helps me not take books for granted.”

As State Honorees, Devneet and Damacia 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 2016.

Distinguished Finalists

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

These are Georgia's Distinguished Finalists for 2016:

Annie Dempsey, 17, of Kennesaw, Ga., a senior at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School, serves as Georgia state director of the Miss Amazing Pageant, a program that helps girls with disabilities build confidence and self-esteem through pageant skills such as public speaking. Annie, who was named Georgia director in 2012, coordinates an event committee that assists with planning, sponsorship, recruitment and volunteer training.

Elizabeth Harvey, 17, of Dunwoody, Ga., a member of the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and a senior at The Westminster Schools, developed and coordinated two educational programs for 40 children at a shelter for women and children, and also raised more than $2,000 by making and selling homemade candles to support her programs. Elizabeth created the “Trees Around Us” program to educate the children about nature while incorporating STEM activities and a field trip, and also created the “My Healthy Self” program, which featured exercise and fitness lessons, games to teach kids how to live a healthy lifestyle, and a fun run.

Matthew McDaniel, 16, of Snellville, Ga., a junior at Archer High School, co-founded “Helpful Hydration,” a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing communities in Africa with access to clean water and proper sanitation. Matthew, who serves as co-president of the organization, has helped to coordinate a handmade bracelet fundraiser, which resulted in $5,000 to support the organization’s mission.

Olivia Ries, 13, of Fayetteville, Ga., an eighth-grader at Konos Academy, co-founded “One More Generation (OMG),” a nonprofit organization that aims to help save endangered species across the globe. Olivia and her brother have written curriculum about the dangers of plastic pollution on wildlife that they are distributing to teachers across the country, and have also raised awareness about rhino poaching and traveled to other countries to encourage world leaders to strengthen animal protection laws.

Hailee Sontag, 16, of Grayson, Ga., a junior at Archer High School, is co-president and co-founder of “Helpful Hydration,” a nonprofit organization that works to provide sustainable water to communities in sub-Saharan Africa through events, fundraisers and other measures. The organization’s first fundraiser, selling handmade bracelets to raise money for well construction, now operates on a national level, involving school clubs and youth groups from around the United States.

Hannah Testa, 13, of Cumming, Ga., a member of the Forsyth County 4-H and a seventh-grader at Vickery Creek Middle School, is an avid animal activist who has helped raise awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution by creating educational videos and conducting presentations to 1,000 people. Hannah also baked elephant cookies and raised $1,400 to support The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya, which cares for orphaned elephants and releases them back to the wild.

Erin Grace Walden, 17, of Ringgold, Ga., a senior at Heritage High School, is a volunteer in the museum apprentice program at the Creative Discovery Museum, where she assists at summer camps and events, interacts with visitors and helps to clean exhibits. Erin also volunteers at the Tennessee Aquarium, where she educates visitors about the animals.

“Prudential commends each of these young volunteers for using their creativity and compassion to bring positive change to their communities,” said Prudential Chairman and CEO John Strangfeld. “We hope their stories inspire others to consider how they can make a difference, too.”

“We are pleased to honor these students not only for their exemplary acts of service, but for the powerful example they’ve set for their peers,” said JoAnn Bartoletti, executive director of NASSP. “Congratulations to each of the 2016 honorees.”

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 HandsOn Network affiliates, 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 2, 10 of the State Honorees – five middle level and five high school students – will be named America’s top youth volunteers of 2016. 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 115,000 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 on behalf of President Barack Obama.

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 middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and school leaders from across the United States and 35 countries around the world. The association connects and engages school leaders through advocacy, research, education, and student programs. NASSP advocates on behalf of all school leaders to ensure the success of each student and strengthens school leadership practices through the design and delivery of high quality professional learning experiences. 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 Association of Student Councils. For more information about NASSP, located in Reston, VA, visit 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.

Editors: For full-color pictures of the Spirit of Community Awards program logo and medallions, click here: http://bit.ly/Xi4oFW

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