The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Program

What are the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards?

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards were created in 1995 to recognize students in middle level and high school grades who have made meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service. These prestigious awards, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the Nation Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), are presented annually on the local, state, and national level. 

How does the program work?

1. Young volunteers in grades 5-12 complete applications online at https://spirit.prudential.com/ or https://www.nassp.org/recognition/student-awards/prudential-spirit-of-community-awards?SSO=true by November 8, 2016, and then submit them to their school principals or to the head of one of these officially designated local organizations: a Girl Scout council, county 4-H organization, American Red Cross chapter, YMCA, or affiliate of HandsOn Network. Applicants and their parents or guardians also must complete the application form's signature page. 
2. Each participating school or organization reviews the applications of its students and selects one middle level Local Honoree for every 1,000 students in grades 5-8, and/or one high school Local Honoree for every 2,000 students in grades 9-12.
3. Principals or organization heads certify applications of their selected Local Honoree(s) online by November 18, 2016.
4. The top middle level and high school youth volunteer in each state and the District of Columbia are named State Honorees in February, and two to 10 runner-ups in each state are named Distinguished Finalists. 
5. Ten of State Honorees are named America's top 10 youth volunteers if the year by a distinguished national selection committee at a special ceremony in Washington, D.C., in May.

What do Honorees receive?

• Local Honorees receive Certificates of Achievement from their schools or organizations. Those who qualify will also receive the President's Volunteer Service Award if they have contributed the minimum number of volunteer hours.
• State Honorees receive $1000, engraved silver medallions, and an all-expense paid trip with a parent or guardian to Washington, D.C., in May for several days of recognition events, including award ceremonies, sightseeing tours and Congressional visits on Capitol Hill.
• Distinguished Finalists (runner-ups at the state level) receive engraved bronze medallions.
• Other top applicants at the state level receive Certificates of Excellence.
• National Honorees receive additional $5000 awards, engraved gold medallions, and crystal trophies for their schools or organizations. They also receive $5000 grants from The Prudential Foundation for nonprofit charitable organizations of their choice.

Who is eligible?

Any student who:

• is in grades 5-12 as of November 8, 2016, and is a legal resident of one of the 50 states of the United States or the District of Columbia.
• has engaged in a volunteer activity that occurred at least in part after September 1, 2015.
• completes an application and submits it to a school principal or the head of an officially designated local organization by November 8, 2016. 

Watch out for these dates:

September 2016: Online application form is available at https://spirit.prudential.com/ or https://www.nassp.org/recognition/student-awards/prudential-spirit-of-community-awards?SSO=true . Program information is mailed to all middle level and high schools and to officially designated local organizations. 

November 8, 2016: Deadline for students to complete application online, submit applications to a school principal or the head of an officially designated local organization, and send in signed signature page. 

November 9-18, 2016: Participating schools and organizations review applications and select Local Honorees, then nominate them for state-level judging by certifying their applications online. 

February 7, 2017: Judges name the top middle level and high school youth volunteer in every state and the District of Columbia as State Honorees.

May 6-9, 2017: 102 State Honorees attend national recognition events in Washington, D.C., where America's top 10 youth volunteers of the year are announced.

Applicants must submit completed applications to one of the following:

• A middle or high school
• A Girl Scout Council
• A county 4-H organization
• An American Red Cross chapter
• A YMCA
• An affiliate of HandsOn Network