Prudential Spirit of Community Awards top AZ youth volunteers for 2013 | Community Spirit

Two Tucson students were recognized as Distinguised Finalists in the contest - Sarah Heiser, a senior at Catalina Foothills High School, and Braden Whitaker, a junior at Ironwood Ridge High School. 

Top honors went to two Phoenix area students, 18 year old Morgan Beckwith and 13-year-old Alexandra Cockett. With each receiving $1,000, a silver engraved medal and an all expense paid trip to Washington D.C. to take part in four days of recognition.   

Sarah and Braden were joined in the Distinguised Finalist category by:

• Naveen Dasari, 15, of Scottsdale;
• Henry Ng, 18, of Glendale;  
• Aditi Poduval, 17, of Scottsdale;
• Matthew Safford, 17, of Scottsdale.

Each will receive a bronze medal.

Sarah Heiser, coordinated a daylong assembly for the nearly 2,000 students at her school to help raise awareness about bullying and prevention through the national program “Rachel’s Challenge.” In addition to the student program, Sarah organized an evening program for parents and was elected president for the newly formed “Friends of Rachel Club” to continue to spread awareness of bullying.

Braden Whitaker, is president of his student body and instrumental in various school service projects, most notably a project that raised more than $40,000 through bracelet sales to help support the victims of the January 2011 Tucson shooting. In addition, Braden earned his Eagle Scout Award by refurbishing 3,000 books at three local charter schools.

Read more about each of Arizona's State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130205005087/en/Arizonas-Top-Youth-Volunteers-Selected-18th-Annual

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), is the United States’ largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteer service.