Submitted by Thurston County 4-H
Racheal Ferdinand, 17, of Yelm, WA has been honored for her exemplary volunteer service with a President’s Volunteer Service Award.
The award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country, was presented by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program on behalf of President Barack Obama. Racheal Ferdinand participated in the Spirit of Community program this year as a representative of the Thurston County 4-H Dog Program in Thurston County where she is a member.
Racheal earned her award for leading efforts to improve the grounds around the Chitty Barn at the Thurston County Fairgrounds. Racheal raised over $1500 in funds and materials to rebuild the fencing around the arena and beautify landscaping and flower beds. The entire project will be completed in summer 2013, just in time for the Thurston County Fair.
Sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program recognizes young people across America for outstanding community service activities. More than 370,000 young people across American have been considered for these awards since the program began in 1995.
“The recipients of these awards vividly demonstrate that young people across America are making remarkable contributions to the health and vitality of their communities,” said John R. Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial. “In recognizing these students and placing a spotlight on their volunteer service activities, we hope to motivate others to consider how they can also contribute to their community.”
“Demonstrating civic responsibility through community volunteerism is an important part of life,” said NASSP Executive Director JoAnn Bartoletti. “These Honorees practice a lesson we hope all young people, as well as adults, will emulate.”
Program applications were distributed last September through all public and private middle level and high schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs, and affiliates of HandsOn Network. After Local Honorees were named, state-level judges selected State Honorees, Distinguished Finalists and Certificate of Excellence recipients. Volunteer activities were judged on criteria such as personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact, and personal growth.
NASSP, based in Reston, Va., is the preeminent organization of and national voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals and aspiring school leaders from across the United States and more than 45 countries around the world. Prudential Financial, based in Newark, N.J., provides more than 50 million individual and institutional customers worldwide with life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds, investment management, and real estate services.
