Some fed the hungry. Others supported U.S. troops and veterans. Many created programs to inspire a love of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in other students.

Those are just some of the stories of the 102 youth volunteers – two from each state and the District of Columbia – who today were named State Honorees by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring students in grades 5-12 for outstanding volunteer service. The awards program, now in its 20th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial 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 in early May to Washington, D.C. for four days of national recognition events. During the trip, 10 of them will be named America’s top youth volunteers of 2015.

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. More than 500 other applicants were awarded Certificates of Excellence for their volunteer work. (See attached list of State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists.)

Many of this year’s State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists were recognized for helping people with cancer and raising money for research. Several helped communities recover from, and prepare for, natural disasters. A number of these top youth volunteers provided food, books and school supplies to young people in need, and many more found ways to involve other students in community service activities.

Learn about the volunteer activities of each State Honoree and Distinguished Finalist at http://spirit.prudential.com.

“Prudential is honored to celebrate the contributions of these remarkable young volunteers,” said Prudential Chairman and CEO John Strangfeld. “By shining a spotlight on the difference they’ve made in their communities, we hope others are inspired to volunteer, too.”

“These students have not only improved their communities through their exemplary volunteer service, but also set a fine example for their peers,” said JoAnn Bartoletti, executive director of NASSP. “Each of their stories is proof of the impact one young person can have when they decide to make a difference.”

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 4, 10 of the State Honorees – five middle level and five high school students – will be named America’s top youth volunteers of 2015. 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 100,000 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 and China. 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.

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

 

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

2015 State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists

 
 

Alabama

State Honorees:

Corinne Phillips, 17, Hope Christian School, Pelham
Samuel Sherling, 12, Fort Dale Academy, Greenville
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Cameron Gallups, 14, Hewitt-Trussville Middle School, Trussville

Brittany McDade, 18, Faith Christian School, Anniston
Kerri Tang, 16, Hoover High School, Hoover
Morgan Whetstone, 17, Spain Park High School, Hoover
 

Alaska

State Honorees:

Cassandra Adams, 17, Ketchikan High School, Ketchikan
Amara Sanguni, 12, Girl Scouts of Alaska, Anchorage
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Jayton Rizzo, 18, American Red Cross of Alaska, Anchorage
Jenevia Wika, 15, South Anchorage High School, Anchorage
 

Arizona

State Honorees:

Matthew Kaplan, 17, Tesseract School, Phoenix
Benjamin Meyer, 14, Emmanuel Lutheran School, Tempe
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Meagan Bethel, 17, Tucson High Magnet School, Tucson
Tara Dugel, 17, Phoenix Country Day School, Paradise Valley

Ciella Hatfield-Burke, 17, Lake Havasu High School, Lake Havasu City

Charles Huang, 18, BASIS Oro Valley, Oro Valley

Emily Jordan, 18, Xavier College Preparatory High School, Phoenix

Reid Maurice, 18, Shadow Mountain High School, Phoenix
 

Arkansas

State Honorees:

Heather Jackson, 17, Pike County 4-H, Murfreesboro
Colbe Cortez, 12, Bethel Middle School, Alexander
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Rebecca Aguilera, 17, Maumelle High School, Maumelle
Mary Bryant, 17, Valley View High School, Jonesboro

Hannah Colford, 17, Arkansas Baptist High School, Little Rock

Katherine Sanders, 17, Batesville High School, Batesville
 

California

State Honorees:

Kenzie Hall, 17, Great Oak High School, Temecula
Raghav Ganesh, 12, Joaquin Miller Middle School, San Jose
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Dahkota Brown, 16, Argonaut High School, Jackson

Morgan Davidson, 17, New Community Jewish High School, West Hills

Alec Dominick, 17, Harvard-Westlake School, Studio City
Kevin Huo, 16, San Mateo High School, San Mateo
Angela Liu, 16, American Red Cross, San Marino

Samantha Ludes, 17, Newport Harbor High School, Costa Mesa

Anant Pai, 17, Redlands Senior High School, Redlands
Sonali Ranaweera, 14, Del Mar High School, San Jose
Ryan Traynor, 15, Saint Francis High School, Mountain View

Alexander Triestman, 13, Don Juan Avila Middle School, Aliso Viejo

 

Colorado

State Honorees:

Sydney Burckhardt, 17, George Washington High School, Denver

Madison Tatinski, 10, Corwin International Magnet School, Pueblo

 

Distinguished Finalists:

Addison Kleinhans, 10, Colorado Digital Academy, Lakewood

Garrett Ann Nevins, 17, Mountain Vista High School, Highlands Ranch

Nicole Steiner, 16, Legend High School, Parker
Breanna Wheeler, 18, Cherokee Trail High School, Aurora
 

Connecticut

State Honorees:

Samantha Petersen, 17, Petersen Homeschool, South Windsor

Holly Johnson, 13, Elisabeth C. Adams Middle School, Guilford

 

Distinguished Finalists:

Mikaela-Rose Blanchard, 18, East Windsor High School, East Windsor

Bridget Smith, 18, Girl Scouts of Connecticut, Hartford
Colin Wrinn, 17, Xavier High School, Middletown
Jane Zhang, 17, Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford
 

Delaware

State Honorees:

Elizabeth Quesenberry, 17, Padua Academy High School, Wilmington

Piper Biggs, 11, Kent County 4-H, Dover
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Hyung Jun Hahn, 18, Alexis I. du Pont High School, Wilmington

Will Kenney, 12, Millsboro Middle School, Millsboro
 

District of Columbia

State Honorees:

Dionne Wright, 17, Columbia Heights Education Campus, Washington, D.C.

Hewan Abera, 14, Saint Augustine Catholic School, Washington, D.C.

 

Distinguished Finalists:

Harriet Fink, 18, Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, Washington, D.C.

Jordan Giles, 17, Girl Scouts Nation's Capital, Washington, D.C.

 

Florida

State Honorees:

Carolina Gonzalez, 18, Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, Miami

N'Jhari Jackson, 12, The Paideia School of Tampa Bay, Tampa

 

Distinguished Finalists:

Rachel Barcellona, 18, Dunedin High School, Dunedin
Alain Carles, 17, Ransom Everglades School, Coconut Grove

Katerina Garcia, 16, Archbishop Edward McCarthy High School, Southwest Ranches

Sydney Hamilton, 16, Key West High School, Key West

Joshua Katz, 12, Franklin Academy Charter School, Lake Worth

Eve Moll, 16, St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Fort Lauderdale

Jared Shadkin, 15, iPreparatory Academy, Miami
Oliver Stern, 14, Ransom Everglades School, Coconut Grove
 

Georgia

State Honorees:

Evan Barnard, 16, Johns Creek High School, Johns Creek
Carter Ries, 13, Konos Academy, Fayetteville
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Katie Dionne, 17, North Hall High School, Gainesville
Jack Griffin, 16, Peachtree Ridge High School, Suwanee
Ansley Knight, 16, Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, Mableton

Hayden Elizabeth Ramsey, 18, Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, Mableton

Joshua Seides, 16, Alpharetta High School, Alpharetta

Samantha Stahlman, 17, Riverwood International Charter School, Sandy Springs

 

Hawaii

State Honorees:

Alexandra Skrocki, 17, Radford High School, Honolulu

Kaytlen Akau, 13, Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School, Lihue

 

Distinguished Finalists:

Jasmine Doan, 18, Seabury Hall School, Makawao

Jillian Madanay, 17, Lutheran High School of Hawaii, Honolulu

 

Idaho

State Honorees:

Chandler Beard, 18, North Fremont High School, Ashton
Tracie Bates-Orgill, 14, Rigby Middle School, Rigby
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Addie Lutz, 17, Grangeville High School, Grangeville
Benjamin Seabourn, 14, North Junior High School, Boise
 

Illinois

State Honorees:

Nicholas Tasiopoulos, 17, Libertyville High School, Libertyville

Madeline Hoskins-Cumbey, 14, Wheaton Christian Grammar School, Winfield

 

Distinguished Finalists:

Katherine Andraschko, 18, Barrington High School, Barrington

Brianna Carey, 17, Geneva Community High School, Geneva

Gabriella Cooperman, 14, Highland Park High School, Highland Park

Elizabeth Einig, 16, James B. Conant High School, Hoffman Estates

Kyla Guru, 12, Charles J. Caruso Middle School, Deerfield
Grace Khachaturian, 17, Centennial High School, Champaign
Alec Lopata, 18, Deerfield High School, Deerfield
Sam Papasotirioiu, 17, Libertyville High School, Libertyville
 

Indiana

State Honorees:

Makenzie Smith, 15, William W. Borden Jr.-Sr. High School, Borden

Olivia Keith, 11, Sand Creek Intermediate School, Fishers
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Korinna Brown, 17, Maconaquah High School, Bunker Hill

Courtney Dunn, 18, Greenfield-Central High School, Greenfield

Jacob Reynolds, 18, Warsaw Community High School, Warsaw

Gradyn Rogers, 15, Kokomo High School, Kokomo
Hannah Roper, 18, Hamilton Heights High School, Arcadia
Alexandra Skinner, 17, Lincoln High School, Vincennes
 

Iowa

State Honorees:

Mark Baudler, 17, Nodaway Valley High School, Greenfield
Morgan Border, 13, Webster County 4-H, Fort Dodge
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Jennifer Baldwin, 17, North Scott Senior High School, Eldridge

Alex Freeman, 18, North Scott Senior High School, Eldridge
Jenna Harris, 11, Waukee Middle School, Waukee
Emily Montelius, 16, Jefferson High School, Cedar Rapids
 

Kansas

State Honorees:

Megan Keller, 18, Wichita Northwest High School, Wichita
Caitlyn Willis, 13, Andover eCademy, Andover
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Reagan Dillow, 18, Erie High School, Erie
Paul Freeman, 18, Rockhurst High School, Kansas City

Nghia Jones, 18, International Connections Academy, Baltimore

Amber Kelly, 17, Atchison County 4-H, Effingham
 

Kentucky

State Honorees:

Madeline Stephenson, 17, Cumberland County High School, Burkesville

Amelia Lowe, 11, Greathouse/Shryock Traditional Elementary School, Louisville

 

Distinguished Finalists:

Hadeel Abdallah, 17, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, Lexington

Alexandra Griffiths, 18, Green County High School, Greensburg

Hannah Irvine, 17, Boyd County High School, Ashland

Alexandria Myers, 18, Christian Academy of Louisville, Louisville

 

Louisiana

State Honorees:

Stephanie Durr, 18, Captain Shreve High School, Shreveport
Madeline Bethea, 13, Webster Junior High School, Minden
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Stanley Celestine, 15, Avoyelles 4-H, Mansura
Sean Noel, 13, Mandeville Junior High School, Mandeville

Isabella Summersgill, 15, Archbishop Hannan High School, Covington

Jack Sweeney, 17, Louisiana School for Math Science and the Arts, Natchitoches

 

Maine

State Honorees:

Meghan Charest, 16, Falmouth High School, Falmouth

Kevin Ayotte, 14, Madawaska Middle/High School, Madawaska

 

Distinguished Finalists:

Emma Cloyd, 18, Camden Hills Regional High School, Rockport

Parker Montano, 17, Cheverus High School, Portland
 

Maryland

State Honorees:

Robert Palmisano, 17, Hereford High School, Parkton
Ellie Feaga, 12, Glenwood Middle School, Glenwood
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Isabella Allen, 13, Crofton Middle School, Crofton
Vasiliki Argeroplos, 16, Garrison Forest School, Owings Mills

Zachary Azrael, 18, Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School, Baltimore

Athena Kan, 16, River Hill High School, Clarksville
Sareana Kimia, 16, home school, Bethesda

Marie Sgouros, 17, Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, Baltimore

 

Massachusetts

State Honorees:

Brian Salit, 18, Seekonk High School, Seekonk
Megan O'Donovan, 13, Milford Public Schools, Milford
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Annie Barringer, 17, Needham High School, Needham
Alexander Corcoran, 18, Dracut Senior High School, Dracut

Ella Dehestani, 18, Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School, Upton

Alexander Denmark, 17, Sandwich High School, Sandwich

William Digravio, 17, Plymouth North High School, Plymouth

Mekalia Mason-Rollins, 17, Whitman-Hanson Regional High School, Whitman

 

Michigan

State Honorees:

Hunter Gandee, 15, Bedford High School, Temperance

Caleb White, 12, Clifford H. Smart Middle School, Walled Lake

 

Distinguished Finalists:

Alexis French, 17, Mattawan High School, Mattawan
Curtis Hsu, 17, Athens High School, Troy

Sophia Koolwick, 17, Everest Collegiate High School, Clarkston

John McHarg, 17, Alpena High School, Alpena
T'Yara McMillan, 17, Mercy High School, Farmington Hills
Megan Notoriano, 17, Regina High School, Warren
Michael Shao, 18, Detroit Country Day School, Beverly Hills
Julia Teatro, 17, Fenton Senior High School, Fenton
 

Minnesota

State Honorees:

Shivani Nookala, 17, Breck School, Golden Valley
Alanna Worrall, 12, Anoka Middle School, Anoka
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Claire Baker, 18, Totino-Grace High School, Fridley
Emily Matlack, 18, Carlton High School, Carlton

Manashree Padiyath, 13, Math and Science Academy, Woodbury

Shrey Pothini, 11, Harriet Bishop Elementary, Savage
Rachael Price, 17, Minnetonka High School, Minnetonka
Kelly Reger, 18, Edina High School, Edina
 

Mississippi

State Honorees:

Katie Rogers, 17, Simpson County Academy, Mendenhall
Shields Haire, 13, Tupelo Middle School, Tupelo
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Mary Mock, 17, Columbia High School, Columbia
Elizabeth Phillips, 17, New Hope High School, Columbus
Tolar Purvis, 18, Jackson Preparatory School, Flowood
Kimberly Sanchez, 18, Biloxi High School, Biloxi
 

Missouri

State Honorees:

Nicole Shah, 16, Greenwood Laboratory School, Springfield
Blake Harris, 14, Congress Middle School, Kansas City
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Sophie Bernstein, 15, Clayton High School, Webster Groves
Taylor Brooks, 18, Dora High School, Dora
Aileen Markovitz, 18, Eureka High School, Eureka
Jade McNeil, 17, Troy Buchanan High School, Troy
Jordan Richardson, 18, Platte County High School, Platte City
Yearam Tak, 18, St. Charles County Family YMCA, St. Peters
 

Montana

State Honorees:

Keegan Nicholson, 17, Loyola Sacred Heart High School, Missoula

Jayson Wanner, 13, East Middle School, Great Falls
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Shelbi Fitzpatrick, 18, Cut Bank High School, Cut Bank
Emily Jones, 16, Ravalli County 4-H, Hamilton
 

Nebraska

State Honorees:

Melissa Newkirk, 17, Burke High School, Omaha
Cole Jacobsen, 13, Cuming County 4-H, West Point
 

Distinguished Finalists:

My'Kah Knowlin, 13, Lux Middle School, Lincoln
Kendra Staab, 18, Broken Bow High School, Broken Bow
 

Nevada

State Honorees:

Nasya Mancini, 17, Edward C. Reed High School, Sparks
Lexie Wilder, 11, Lummis Elementary School, Las Vegas
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Ryan Bobo, 14, Nevada Connections Academy, Reno
Nathaniel Devera, 18, The Meadows School, Las Vegas

Gillian Eastman, 17, Southwest Career and Technical Academy, Las Vegas

Keely Eshenbaugh, 17, Coronado High School, Henderson
 

New Hampshire

State Honorees:

Daniel Iacopucci, 18, Belmont High School, Belmont

Elizabeth Hughes, 11, Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains, Bedford

 

Distinguished Finalists:

Zoe Perkins, 17, Windham High School, Windham
Elizabeth West, 15, Merrimack Valley High School, Penacook
 

New Jersey

State Honorees:

Arturo (AJ) Mattia, 15, Holy Cross Academy, Delran

William Cook, 13, Westwood Regional Jr./Sr. High School, Township Of Washington

 

Distinguished Finalists:

Soo Bean Jo, 18, Bergen Academy for Business and Finance, Hackensack

Valerie Kologrivov, 18, Ramapo High School, Franklin Lakes
Jessica Levy, 18, Washington Township High School, Sewell

Sabina London, 17, Northern Valley Demarest High School, Demarest

Jessica Martin, 18, Manalapan High School, Englishtown
Olivia Perlmutter, 18, Chatham High School, Chatham
 

New Mexico

State Honorees:

Renaya Demarest, 18, East Mountain High School, Sandia Park

Justin Allen, 14, Holy Ghost Catholic School, Albuquerque
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Issach Martinez, 18, Independence High School, Rio Rancho
Matthew Villareal, 18, St. Pius X High School, Albuquerque
 

New York

State Honorees:

David Jaslow, 17, Roslyn High School, Roslyn
Jake Gallin, 12, Volunteer New York!, Tarrytown
 

Distinguished Finalists:

James Fallon, 13, H.C. Crittenden Middle School, Armonk

Sara Friedman, 18, Sleepy Hollow High School, Sleepy Hollow

Shay Kerwin, 10, Wynantskill Union Free School District, Troy

Devin Mueller, 17, Nardin Academy High School, Buffalo
Brook Peters, 18, McBurney YMCA, New York
Lillian Pravda, 15, Ramaz School, New York
Eric Ramsay, 17, Bay Shore Senior High School, Bay Shore
Damon Villnave, 11, Gillette Road Middle School, Cicero
 

North Carolina

State Honorees:

Davis Dawson, 16, Jay M. Robinson High School, Concord
Samuel Park, 12, Harris Road Middle School, Concord
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Anna Chesson, 17, Riverside High School, Williamston
Jeffrey Friday, 17, Forestview High School, Gastonia

Madison Howell, 17, Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont, Colfax

Kaitlyn Karcher, 17, Smoky Mountain High School, Sylva

Megan Maness, 17, Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont, Colfax

Lauren Matlosz, 16, High Point Fine Arts Academy, High Point

 

North Dakota

State Honorees:

Nichole Hanzel, 18, Killdeer High School, Killdeer
Lauren Knoll, 13, Park Christian School, Moorhead
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Lauryn Hinckley, 15, Century High School, Bismarck
Emily Lothspeich, 17, Wyndmere High School, Wyndmere
 

Ohio

State Honorees:

Morlan Osgood, 16, Loveland High School, Loveland
Rachel Prior, 12, Tallmadge Middle School, Tallmadge
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Justin Bachman, 17, Solon High School, Solon
Kylynn Buchanan, 18, Washington County 4-H, Marietta
Eva Dickinson, 18, Our Lady of the Elms High School, Akron
Emma Moore, 10, L. T. Ball Intermediate School, Tipp City
Christian Musarra, 18, Nordonia High School, Macedonia

Alex O'Brien, 15, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy High School, Cincinnati

Mariah Reynolds, 16, The School for Creative and Performing Arts, Cincinnati

Abigail Walouke, 18, William Mason High School, Mason

 

Oklahoma

State Honorees:

Alexandria (Lexie) Lerblance, 16, Pittsburg County 4-H, McAlester

Malayna Stober, 13, Carl Albert Middle School, Midwest City
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Emma Duncan, 17, Edmond North High School, Edmond
Gloria Tso, 17, Bartlesville High School, Bartlesville
Taylor Wood, 18, Chattanooga High School, Chattanooga
Alana Wynn, 17, American Red Cross, McAlester
 

Oregon

State Honorees:

Marissa McGinnis, 17, Mazama High School, Klamath Falls
Noah Miller, 14, Duniway Middle School, McMinnville
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Jessi Beyer, 16, Valley Catholic High School, Portland
Grant Crim, 19, Winter Lakes High School, Coquille

Talia Quatraro, 18, Lake Oswego Senior High School, Lake Oswego

Cynthia Santiago, 14, St. Mary’s Academy, Portland
 

Pennsylvania

State Honorees:

Conner Hagins, 18, Bishop McCort Catholic High School, Johnstown

Hanna Maier, 12, Prospect Park School, Prospect Park
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Jamie Feldman, 17, North Allegheny Senior High School, Wexford

Brynn Hackett, 18, Manheim Township High School, Lancaster

Amy Li, 16, Upper Dublin High School, Fort Washington
Cavan McIntyre-Brewer, 13, The Cove School, Duncannon

Cameron Ohrwashel, 18, Nazareth Area High School, Nazareth

Jenna Shumar, 18, Brownsville Area High School, Brownsville

Norman Stark, 18, Cathedral Preparatory School, Erie

Courtney Thurston, 17, Commonwealth Connections Academy, Dickson City

 

Rhode Island

State Honorees:

Kayleigh Lapre, 16, Cumberland High School, Cumberland

Alyssa Grayson, 14, University of Rhode Island 4-H, Kingston
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Sarah Coutu, 11, St. Cecilia's School, Pawtucket

Grace D'Antuono, 18, North Kingstown High School, North Kingstown

 

South Carolina

State Honorees:

Anna Price, 17, Richland Northeast High School, Columbia
John Ward, 13, Chapin Middle School, Chapin
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Makiah Belk, 18, Irmo High School, Columbia

Logan Fettes, 17, Hilton Head Island High School, Hilton Head

Brittany Joyce, 18, Hartsville High School, Hartsville

Shea Thomas, 17, American Red Cross Eastern South Carolina, Myrtle Beach

 

South Dakota

State Honorees:

Abbigail Boner, 17, Castlewood High School, Castlewood
Jessica Benson, 14, West Middle School, Rapid City
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Danika Gordon, 12, Sturgis Williams Middle School, Sturgis
Emma Lucchesi, 16, Brookings High School, Brookings
 

Tennessee

State Honorees:

Sara Puryear, 18, Harpeth Hall School, Nashville
Iyonia Boyce, 14, Collierville Middle School, Collierville
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Laree Carter, 13, Riverdale Elementary School, Germantown
Sarah Locke, 18, Walker Valley High School, Cleveland
Claire Martin, 18, Cornersville High School, Cornersville
Morgan Munsey, 18, Sullivan East High School, Bluff City
Abigail Ridenour, 17, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge
Michael Zietz, 18, Oakland High School, Murfreesboro
 

Texas

State Honorees:

Cullen Corr, 16, Episcopal School of Dallas, Dallas
Eric Li, 14, Pearland Junior High West, Pearland
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Wilson Clark, 18, Lee High School, Midland
Karla Espinosa, 17, Sharyland High School, Mission
Jake Galant, 17, St. Mark's School of Texas, Dallas

Jocelyn Hernandez, 18, STEM Academy @ Lee High School, San Antonio

Courtney Janecka, 11, River Valley Intermediate School, McGregor

Sanah Jivani, 17, Klein Collins High School, Spring
Grace Knight, 17, Bishop T.K. Gorman Catholic School, Tyler
Abigail Moorhead, 16, St. John's School, Houston
Katherine Thomas, 17, Plano West Senior High School, Plano
Kayce Welch, 17, Texas High School, Texarkana
 

Utah

State Honorees:

John Wesley Orton, 18, Innovations Early College High School, Salt Lake City

Amelia Slama-Catron, 13, Midvale Middle School, Midvale
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Alexis Carlsen, 17, Davis High School, Kaysville
Emilee Hamilton, 17, Mountain Crest High School, Hyrum
Marina McNeill, 17, Riverton High School, Riverton
Yvonne Ward, 17, Bountiful High School, Bountiful
 

Vermont

State Honorees:

Alexina Federhen, 17, Mount Anthony Union High School, Bennington

Abigail Jacunski, 13, Mater Christi School, Burlington
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Abby Miles, 17, Harwood Union High School, Waterbury

Peter Wilson, 16, Woodstock Union High School & Middle School, Woodstock

 

Virginia

State Honorees:

Emma Buchanan, 18, Patrick Henry High School, Glade Spring

Thomas "Tucker" Durham, 13, Holman Middle School, Glen Allen

 

Distinguished Finalists:

Bryce Badura, 17, Clover Hill High School and the Math and Science High School at Clover Hill, Hopewell

Unity Bowling, 15, Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Richmond

Hannah Hardison, 17, Millbrook High School, Winchester
Lauren Henk, 18, Smithfield High School, Smithfield
Madeline Rosso, 17, James Wood High School, Winchester
Maeve Winter, 16, Western Albemarle High School, Crozet
 

Washington

State Honorees:

Leah Shin, 18, Henry M. Jackson High School, Mill Creek

Fiona Cowell, 12, Thurston County 4-H (Steamboat Island Kibbles & Bits Dog 4-H Club), Olympia

 

Distinguished Finalists:

Sujan Bhandari, 18, Foster Senior High School, Tukwila
Sebastian Castilleja, 16, Prosser High School, Prosser

Joshua Dugger, 18, Kettle Falls High School, Kettle Falls Mount Vernon

Jessica France, 17, Mount Vernon High School,
Skyler Hamilton, 15, Meridian High School, Bellingham
Nina Reckinger, 17, Newport Senior High School, Bellevue
 

West Virginia

State Honorees:

Thad Taylor, 17, Huntington High School, Huntington
Emilee Ellison, 12, Wood County 4-H, Parkersburg
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Ginny Blake, 17, Huntington High School, Huntington
Ryan Thompson, 16, Wood County 4-H, Parkersburg
 

Wisconsin

State Honorees:

Marlaina Perelshtein, 17, Grafton High School, Grafton
Lia Haile, 11, Stangel Elementary School, Manitowoc
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Eric Beets, 18, Burlington High School, Burlington
Hannah Doyle, 18, Brookfield Academy, Brookfield
Mary Graebner, 18, J.I. Case High School, Racine
Maya Murzello, 18, Appleton North High School, Appleton
Nicolas Spindt, 11, Kettle Moraine Middle School, Dousman
Connor Wears, 18, Amery High School, Amery
 

Wyoming

State Honorees:

Laura Harris, 17, Green River High School, Green River
Trinity Rich, 11, Douglas Upper Elementary School, Douglas
 

Distinguished Finalists:

Adam Jones, 18, Burlington High School, Burlington
Hannah Nieslanik, 17, Cokeville High School, Cokeville
 

For more information on
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists,
visit http://spirit.prudential.com.