Arizona's Top Youth Volunteers Of 2018 Selected By National Program

PHOENIX, Feb. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Aditya Sidapara, 17 and Leanna Clipper, 14, both of Phoenix, today were named Arizona's top two youth volunteers of 2018 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. As State Honorees, Aditya and Leanna each will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip in late April to Washington, D.C., where they will join the top two honorees from each of the other states and the District of Columbia for four days of national recognition events. During the trip, 10 students will be named America's top youth volunteers of 2018.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, now in its 23^rd year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

These are Arizona's top youth volunteers of 2018:

High School State Honoree: Aditya Sidapara

Nominated by BASIS Scottsdale in Scottsdale

Aditya, a senior at BASIS Scottsdale, co-founded an educational initiative that is teaching computer coding to students living in four refugee camps in East Africa, aiming to lift them out of poverty and help meet the worldwide demand for skilled software engineers. Aditya showed an early aptitude in programming and technology, building his first website when he was in third grade. Two years ago, he met two young men who were conducting coding workshops in refugee communities in the Phoenix area, and envisioned a full-fledged software vocational training program for refugee students. Together, they launched the Refugee Code Academy and began working to bring coding boot camps to refugee settlements in Tanzania, Malawi and Kenya.

"Millions of high-potential refugees live in atrociously impoverished communities, hindered from realizing their dreams through technology," said Aditya. "Software engineering offers a dignified path for uplifting refugees from cyclical poverty and inspiring the next generation of regional and global innovators." As a member of the academy team, Aditya has developed a curriculum for offline digital classes taught by local volunteer teachers, built relationships with local NGOs, recruited volunteer programmers, and forged relationships with U.S. firms that could mentor or employ refugee students who are able to emigrate from Africa. He also is working to augment his academy's curriculum with virtual reality technology.  

Middle Level State Honoree: Leanna Clipper

Nominated by Sweetwater School in Glendale

Leanna, an eighth-grader at Sweetwater School, started a "Peer Share" club that pairs middle school mentors with younger students who are dealing with difficult personal issues, but are not comfortable discussing them with an adult. An avid volunteer, Leanna said she "loves helping my community and making the world a better place." She started her club because she knew of students going through tough times but not being able to open up to anyone. "It breaks my heart to see students in trouble," she said.

To start her club, Leanna wrote a detailed plan and presented it to her school social worker and principal. After they approved her idea, she made announcements at school, created and distributed applications, and selected peer mentors. So far, dozens of students have met with her mentors to discuss their problems and learn new coping skills. "We have already touched the lives of many students just by giving them a caring shoulder to lean on and a listening ear, with confidentiality and safety yet without judgment," said Leanna. "We have helped students with family, bullying, homework and other school-related issues," she said. In addition to forming her club, Leanna also has volunteered at her local food bank, participated as a speaker and tour leader during a school leadership day, created a dance committee at her school, and was a key member of an event to match kids with special needs with student "buddies."

Distinguished Finalists

The program judges also recognized six other Arizona students as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities. Each will receive an engraved bronze medallion.

These are Arizona's Distinguished Finalists for 2018:

Isabella Garcia, 17, of Flagstaff, Ariz., a junior at BASIS Flagstaff, has volunteered for the past two years with the Coconino County Teen Court, preparing cases and learning about the law to help minors convicted of misdemeanors learn from their mistakes and move on. Isabella started as a juror with the program and now serves as an attorney, a role that involves reviewing pertinent legal information before the two-hour court sessions, preparing remarks, honing her debate skills, and spending time with court officers after sessions to receive additional training.

Moriah Irving, 17, of Phoenix, Ariz., a senior at North Phoenix Preparatory Academy, is an active volunteer with the Teen Lifeline crisis hotline, providing emotional support for teens facing mental illness, problems at home and other issues. Motivated to volunteer with the hotline by her father's mental illness and suicide, Moriah underwent extensive training on crisis and communication skills and learned about the available state and national crisis resources to let callers know that their life has value and that they are not alone.

Sainamitha Palnati, 17, of Glendale, Ariz., a senior at Mountain Ridge High School, played a key role in her town's 2017 Relay for Life, serving as entertainment chair, coordinating social media, and supporting fundraising and recruiting efforts for an event that drew 400 people and raised more than $43,000 for the American Cancer Society. Inspired to volunteer by stories of her late grandmother, who died from cancer, Sainamitha coordinated a pageant, a lip sync battle and other activities and games to entertain participants throughout the 12-hour event.

Prateek Pinisetti, 17, of Chandler, Ariz., a senior at BASIS Chandler, is the founder of "ChessHelps," a chess education nonprofit that's taught more than 200 young chess players, hosted an annual tournament that's drawn competitors from across the country, and raised $55,000 for his school and small business owners overseas. Proceeds have supported his charter school's general fund, its fund for performance-based teacher bonuses, and an organization that provides microloans for third-world entrepreneurs.

Vishakk Rajendran, 15, of Tucson, Ariz., a sophomore at BASIS Tucson North, has led efforts to create and donate 30 prosthetic hands as the founder of e-NABLE Tuscon, the local chapter of an organization that connects people with 3D printers to people in need of prosthetic upper limbs. Vishakk recruited help to build the hands by securing a donated 3D printer and then starting a 3D printing club at his school; he's also conducted numerous printing demonstrations, and has worked directly with three people to provide them with custom prosthetic hands.

Monet Tam, 17, of Chandler, Ariz., a senior at Hamilton High School, has served with the Chandler Mayor's Youth Commission since 2013 and, as its current chair, leads 18 commission members in organizing and executing community events. Driven to inspire other teens to get involved with their local government, Monet dedicates five to 10 hours a week to her responsibilities with the commission, which is responsible for hosting 14 local celebrations and activities a year.

"Prudential is proud to recognize these remarkable young people for using their energy, creativity and compassion to bring meaningful change to their communities," said Prudential Chairman and CEO John Strangfeld. "We hope their stories inspire others to consider how they can do the same."

"These middle level and high school students have not only improved the lives of the people and communities they've served ? they also set an important example for their peers," said JoAnn Bartoletti, executive director of NASSP. "These honorees prove that you're never too young 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 affiliates of Points of Light's HandsOn Network, 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 April 30, 10 of the State Honorees ? five middle level and five high school students ? will be named America's top youth volunteers of 2018. 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 120,000 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, China, Brazil and Poland. 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.

For information on all of this year's Prudential Spirit of Community State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists, visit http://spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit.

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. 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 Student Council. 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.

For Spirit of Community Awards program logo and medallion graphics, please visit https://spirit.prudential.com/resources/media

SOURCE Prudential Financial, Inc.