Thirteen 4-H youth were among the 102 State Honorees—two from each state and the District of Columbia—who will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., May 5-8, 2007 for several days of national recognition events. Ten of the State Honorees will be named America’s top youth volunteers for 2007 at that time. 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.

4-H participants named Prudential Spirit of Community Awards State Honorees are: Lindsey Jones, Alaska; Jonathan Peacock, Georgia; Kendra Kawamura, Hawaii; James Bailey and Sophia Evans, Kansas; Spencer Farley, Nebraska; Daniel Feldman, New Jersey; Bryce Pfeiffer, New Mexico; Adam Ochsner, South Dakota; Nathan Jarrett, Utah; Jessica Vance, Virginia; Cody Gallagher, West Virginia; and Laurel Leonhardt, Wyoming.

In addition to the State Honorees, 4-H youth were among 25 of the 234 students recognized nationwide as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities. Each will receive an engraved bronze medallion. 4-H participants recognized as Distinguished Finalists are: Alicia Adams, Alaska; Sydney Steely, Arkansas; Kalin Noel, Colorado; Kathleen Greenman and Jared Padgett, Florida; Elizabeth Baudler and Alyse Herr, Iowa; Kacie Giles and Alison Mansfield, Indiana; Austin Granger and Hope McFarland, Louisiana; KayCee Bosek, Minnesota; Matthew Ashley, Montana; Mark Draelos, North Carolina; Bryan Frost, Nebraska; Rachel Lambin, Nevada; Andrea Blamble and Andrea Mitchell, Ohio; Brandon Highfill and Ashley Zumwalt, Oklahoma; Bailey Johnson, Oregon; Emily Hollingsworth, Tennessee; Destiny Christianson, Washington; Justin Reto, Wisconsin; Walter Wilson, Wyoming.

All public and private middle level and high schools in the U.S., as well as all Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and Volunteer Centers, were eligible to select a student or member for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award this past November. More than 7,500 Local Honorees were then reviewed by state-level judges, who selected State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists based on criteria such as personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth.

For more information about the 2007 honorees and to learn more about the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Program, visit prudential.com.