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NORTH CAROLINA'S TOP TWO YOUTH VOLUNTEERS SELECTED/Page Four 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, Camp Fire USA councils and Volunteer Centers, were eligible to select a student or member for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award this past November. Local Honorees were then reviewed by state-level judges, who selected State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists based on criteria such as personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth. On May 3, 2004, ten of the 104 State Honorees - five middle level and five high school students - will be named America's top ten youth volunteers of the year by a prestigious national selection committee. These National Honorees will receive an additional $5,000, a gold medallion, and a crystal trophy. In addition, the ten National Honorees will have a total of $250,000 in children's products donated in their names to needy children in their communities by Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc., the national charity of the children's apparel and products industry. The national selection committee includes Ryan of Prudential Financial; actor Richard Dreyfuss; Robert Goodwin, President and CEO of the Points of Light Foundation; Peter Gallagher, President and CEO of America's Promise; Amy B. Cohen, Director of Learn and Serve America at the Corporation for National Service; Marsha Johnson Evans, President of the American Red Cross; Kathy Cloninger, National Executive Director of Girl Scouts of the USA; Donald T. Floyd Jr., President and CEO of the National 4-H Council; Janice Weinman, President of Kids In Distressed Situations, Inc.; Ken Gladish, National Executive Director of YMCA of the USA; and Cindy Rudrud, President of NASSP. Also serving on the committee are two 2003 Prudential Spirit of Community National Honorees, Laura Greer of Miami, Fla., and Christepher Romero of Phoenix, Ariz. In addition to the organizations listed above, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards are supported by the American Association of School Administrators, National Middle School Association, National School Boards Association, Council of the Great City Schools, National School Public Relations Association, and many national youth and service organizations. The awards are part of a broad initiative created by Prudential to encourage young people to become involved in community service. Other elements of the initiative include The Prudential Youth Leadership Institute, a community leadership training program for high school students, and a variety of educational materials for young people and teachers relating to youth volunteerism. - more -