Search on for Hawaii’s top youth volunteers

Students in fifth- through 12th-grade are invited to apply for Prudential Spirit of Community Awards if they have made meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service within the past 12 months.

The awards, sponsored by Prudential Financial Inc. in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, were created in 1995 to recognize middle and high school students for helping the less fortunate, promoting health and safety, protecting the environment, or volunteering in other ways. The awards are presented annually on the local, state and national level.

Candonino Agusen of Kailua-Kona was one of Hawaii’s top youth volunteers in 2012. Agusen was honored for working with local organizations to help raise more than $64,000 to buy temporary housing kits for people displaced by the 2011 earthquake in Japan. Agusen was also named one of America’s top 10 youth volunteers for 2012.

Applicants must complete online applications by Nov. 6, then submit them for certification to a middle or high school principal, Girl Scout council, county 4-H agent, American Red Cross chapter, YMCA or affiliate of the HandsOn Network. Paper copies of the application form can be requested by calling (877) 525-8491.

Participating schools and local organizations will select local honorees in November and present them with certificates of achievement. Two local honorees will be chosen to represent Hawaii on the national level. State honorees, selected in February, will receive $1,000 awards, silver medallions and a trip to Washington for a recognition event in May. The top 10 national volunteers will receive additional awards of $5,000, gold medallions, crystal trophies for their nominating schools or organizations and $5,000 grants from The Prudential Foundation for nonprofit charitable organizations of their choice.

For more information, or to apply, visit spirit.prudential.com or nassp.org/spirit.