Two Alaska Youth Honored for Volunteerism at National Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C

Business Wire, May 5, 2008

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, Pays Tribute to Young Heroes as Part of Four-Day Recognition Events

WASHINGTON -- Two Alaska students, Ariel Lyon, 17, of Juneau and Noelle Schmitter-Schrier, 14, of Soldotna were honored in the nation's capital last night for their outstanding volunteer work during the presentation of The 2008 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 Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, at the 13th annual award ceremony and gala dinner reception, held at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.

Ariel and Noelle were named the top high school and middle level youth volunteers in Alaska 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.

Conducted in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards were created 13 years ago by Prudential Financial, Inc. to encourage youth volunteerism and to identify and reward young role models. Since then, the program has honored more than 80,000 young volunteers at the local, state and national level.

"Ariel and Noelle 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 Prudential Chairman Arthur F. Ryan. "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."

Ariel, a senior at Juneau-Douglas High School and a member of the Tongass Alaska Girl Scout Council, created a comprehensive resource guide to help local teenagers find fun things to do, as well as places to go for help. Ariel realized there was a desperate need for such a guide after seeing friends run away from home, drop out of school, become sexually active, and turn to drugs and alcohol. Despite the perception that there was little for teens in Juneau, Ariel realized that resources were available - but that not enough kids knew about them.

So, with help from a fellow Girl Scout, an adult adviser and her mother, Ariel researched every local organization of potential interest or use to teens, and conducted an assessment of young people's needs. She then compiled a directory of more than 100 services and activities in the Juneau area, detailing where to go for help with health, school and family problems; eating disorders; sexual issues; job searches; transportation needs; as well as where to find fun things to do and places to hang out. Ariel posted her "Juneau Teen Resource Guide" on the Internet at www.JuneauTeen.com and packaged it into a booklet for distribution around town. Ariel hopes the guide "will make a lasting impact on the lives of youth for years to come," she said.

Noelle, an eighth-grader with the Connections Homeschool Program, spent five months last year teaching English to children and teens in a small mountain village in El Salvador. Noelle, a 4-H member, had been an avid volunteer for many years, so when her family traveled to El Salvador in September 2006, she wanted to make a difference there, as well. "I had never seen such extreme conditions," Noelle said, referring to the desperate poverty and unsanitary living conditions she witnessed. She was surprised, however, to find that what the people there needed most was to learn English. "If they know English, it improves their chances of getting a job that pays more than $2 a day," Noelle explained.

Noelle and her family spent many hours designing lessons and creative activities, and preparing for the classes. Then Noelle and her younger sister taught 200 students basic English skills in 45-minute sessions for four months. They also taught 50 students in an advanced English class for another month. "One of the most difficult things for me was teaching students who were the same age as me or older, to obtain confidence in front of them," she said. By the time the classes concluded, Noelle's students were able to carry on basic conversations and read simple books. "For me, the 4-H pledge to serve my world really came alive during our time in Central America," said Noelle.

Applications for the 2008 awards program were submitted last fall through schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and Volunteer Centers affiliated with the Points of Light & Hands On Network. The top middle level and high school applicants in each state and the District of Columbia were announced in February. These 102 State Honorees are in Washington this week with their parents for four days of special recognition events.

Ten of the 102 were named America's top ten youth volunteers for 2008 at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce headquarters today. These National Honorees received additional $5,000 awards, gold medallions, crystal trophies for the schools that nominated them, and $5,000 grants from The Prudential Foundation for charities of their choice. [The ceremony can be viewed at www.prudential.com/spirit.]