MADISON, Wis., Feb. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Caragan Olles,
16, of De Pere and Eloise Massee, 13, of Green Bay today were named Wisconsin'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, Caragan and Eloise 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
24th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in
partnership with the National Association of Secondary School
Principals (NASSP).
These are Wisconsin's top youth
volunteers of 2019:
High School State Honoree: Caragan
Olles
Nominated by Notre Dame Academy
Caragan, a junior at Notre Dame Academy, co-founded a nonprofit
organization in 2013 that has raised more than $145,000 to provide special tutoring for students
with dyslexia, create dyslexia resource centers in three public
library systems, and educate teachers and parents about this
reading disability. In elementary school, "I came home many days
crying because I felt I wasn't as smart as my classmates," she
said. When she was finally diagnosed with dyslexia in third grade,
she and her family were shocked by the lack of information about
the disorder, and how uninformed her teachers were. Luckily,
Caragan was able to get phonics-based tutoring for several years
that enabled her to succeed in school. But she worried about all
the kids whose families couldn't afford that expense. So Caragan
and her older brother started "Bright Young Dyslexics" to help
students with dyslexia get the extra help they need.
Caragan began to raise money by selling handmade bracelets,
chocolates, baked goods and passes to a "dress down day" at school,
as well as by hosting fundraising dinners at local restaurants. She
also developed a website with information about dyslexia, and
formed a youth advisory board of middle and high school volunteers
– now totaling 36 – who help her fundraise and plan events. In
addition to paying for tutoring and library resources, Caragan's
nonprofit conducts in-school programs to educate teachers about
learning disabilities, and simulation events to show what it's like
to have dyslexia. Bright Young Dyslexics expanded its reach from
Northeast Wisconsin to the entire
state several years ago, and is now offering a "dyslexia awareness
kit" to students across the country who want to educate their own
communities about
dyslexia.
Middle Level State Honoree: Eloise Massee
Nominated by Bay View
Middle School
Eloise, an eighth-grader at Bay View Middle School, is co-chair
of a committee at her school that raises funds and awareness to
promote life-saving organ donations, and conducts other community
service projects, as well. Over the past several years, Eloise has
been a volunteer at a public library's summer reading program, a
science and engineering camp, and holiday dance clinics for
students with special needs. So when she arrived at her current
school, she wanted to get involved in a meaningful service
activity. "Throughout my entire school life, I have always had a
desire to become a leader and help others," she said.
Eloise decided to join her school's Northeast Wisconsin Donate
Life and Community Service Committee and work on its biggest event,
an annual walk to raise money for Donate Life Wisconsin. As a
committee member, she helped recruit volunteers, coordinate with a
national organ donation organization, advertise the event, register
new organ donors and assist with the logistics. The walk raised
more than $18,000 in 2018. This year,
as co-chair of the committee, Eloise has set a fundraising goal of
$20,000. "Right now there are 120,000
people throughout the United
States awaiting an organ transplant," said Eloise. "The
annual walk helps ensure these wonderful people are given the gift
of life." In addition to the walk, Eloise's committee has hosted a
"Heavenly Hats Parade" to buy hats for cancer patients, and made
plans to launch an annual toy and book
drive.
Distinguished Finalists
The program judges also recognized six other Wisconsin
students as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community
service activities. Each will receive an engraved bronze
medallion.
These are Wisconsin's
Distinguished Finalists for 2019:
Selena Buckli, 17, of
Chippewa Falls, Wis., a
senior at Liberty Christian School, volunteers her time by working
with children with special needs to participate in show choir and
several sports, including track and field, bowling and basketball.
Selena, whose work is motivated by her siblings with special needs,
has developed a strong friendship with one participant in
particular, a boy with severe autism; together, they run races and
perform show choir.
Avantika D'Cruz-Wigren, 17, of
Ashland, Wis., a senior
at Ashland High School, volunteers with the Superior Rivers
Watershed Association (SRWA), helping monitor and protect the
health of streams and rivers surrounding Lake Superior. Hoping to study aquatic ecology
in college, Avantika collects water samples, identifies aquatic
invertebrates, completes data entry and helps the SRWA prepare for
community training sessions and other events.
Neil Dogra, 16, of
Mequon, Wis., a sophomore
at University School of Milwaukee,
produced a film, "Crescent of Hope," inspired by his volunteer
experience working with refugees at the Crescent Learning Center. A
grandchild of refugees himself, Neil regularly spends time with
children at the center, helping them with homework, playing sports
and teaching them how to play guitar; he also volunteers with a
community and health center that provides healthcare to uninsured
and underinsured refugees.
Alivia Farber, 18, of
Waukesha, Wis., nominated
by the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee and a senior at Waukesha West
High School, is a swim instructor for the Special Olympics, working
with athletes with special needs to establish and improve their
swimming skills. Inspired by her uncle, a Navy vet who qualified
for the state bowling competition with the Special Olympics, Alivia
adapts her teaching techniques to match the abilities of each
swimmer she works with.
Joseph Schlies, 17, of
Denmark, Wis., a senior
at Denmark High School, created an after-school agricultural
education program for elementary students in his community,
teaching nearly 400 participants twice-monthly interactive lessons.
An active member of Future Farmers of America, Joseph also
recruited others to participate in teaching the program and hopes
to spread awareness about the importance of agriculture.
Theresa Yatchak, 16, of
Milwaukee, Wis., a member
of Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast and a junior at Divine Savior
Holy Angels High School, is the founder of the "'Bee' Aware
Interest Group" at the Urban Ecology Center, which helps fight the
declining bee population by spreading awareness, participating in
local events and implementing two functioning hives in the
Milwaukee area. Theresa was
inspired to start the group after learning about her neighbor's
backyard hives.
"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
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