A Blacksburg Middle School Student is Honored As One of the Top Two Youth Volunteers in Virginia
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism, yesterday named Jessica Vance, a sixth grade student at Blacksburg Middle School, one of Virginia’s top two youth volunteers for 2007. Prudential Financial, in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), has conducted the awards program for the last 12 years.
Jessica was nominated for the award by Blacksburg Middle School and will receive a $1,000 prize, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., where she will join the other honoree from Virginia and the top two honorees (one middle level and one high school youth) from each of the other states and the District of Columbia for several days of national recognition events. Ten of the students will be named America’s top youth volunteers for 2007 at that time.
Jessica has personally crocheted more than 500 baby hat and bootie sets, 40 blankets and dozens of toddler hats over the past two years for new mothers in need. Each hat and bootie set took about two hours to complete and each blanket took two weeks. Jessica’s mother taught her how to crochet the items. As Jessica finished each set, she washed and packaged them. Then she delivered them to the birthing center at a local hospital, a pregnancy center, and the Christmas Store for distribution to new or expectant mothers. “The benefit to me is a warm sense of belonging to my community, and because I know that at least for the moment, my work creates that sense of belonging in other people,” said Jessica.
“People as caring and committed as these young students are critical to the future of our neighborhoods, our cities, and our nation,” said Arthur Ryan, chairman and CEO of Prudential. “By recognizing these honorees, we hope to encourage other young people – our future leaders – and all Americans to think more about the value and importance of volunteering in their communities.”
“NASSP is pleased to once again join Prudential in recognizing these young people for their amazing accomplishments,” remarked Gerald N. Tirozzi, executive director of the NASSP. “This year’s honorees are proof that the youth of today are conscientious and capable of performing selfless acts of kindness in their local communities, on a national scale and at the global level.”