Today, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards begins its search for Georgia's top youth volunteers of 2016. “Middle and high school students nationwide are making their mark on their communities through volunteer service”

Now through November 3, students in grades 5-12 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 application is available at http://spirit.prudential.com and www.nassp.org/spirit.

This program year marks The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards’ 21st year of honoring youth volunteers. The program, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, was created in 1995 to recognize middle level and high school students for helping people in need, promoting health and safety, protecting the environment, or volunteering in other ways. The awards are presented annually on the local, state and national level.

“Every year for the past 20 years, we’ve been inspired by the stories of service we’ve heard from young people across the United States,” said Prudential Chairman and CEO John Strangfeld. “We look forward to honoring the top youth volunteers of 2016, and hope their example will inspire others to serve their communities, too.”

Georgia's top youth volunteers of 2015 were Evan Barnard, 17, of Johns Creek and Carter Ries, 14, of Fayetteville. Evan, Georgia's top high school volunteer, volunteered to repair a vandalized nature trail that featured Braille signs and guide ropes for the blind, and then set out to build more “Braille trails” so that many more visually impaired people can enjoy the great outdoors. Carter, Georgia's top middle level volunteer, created a weeklong educational curriculum with his younger sister that is teaching kids about the importance of reducing plastic pollution.

Carter also was named one of America’s top 10 youth volunteers of 2015.

Applicants for 2016 awards must complete their online applications by November 3, 2015, 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 HandsOn Network affiliate. Paper application forms can be requested by calling 877-525-8491.

Participating schools and local organizations will select Local Honorees in early November and present them with Certificates of Achievement. These Local Honorees also will receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award from President Barack Obama if they have contributed the minimum number of volunteer hours to qualify (26 hours for age 10 and younger, 50 hours for ages 11-15 and 100 hours for older students). All Local Honorees are then reviewed by a state-level judging committee, which will name the top two candidates from each state and the District of Columbia – one high school student and one middle level student – as State Honorees on February 9, 2016. These State Honorees will receive $1,000 awards, engraved silver medallions, and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., with a parent for four days of recognition events April 30-May 3, 2016. Distinguished Finalists at the state level will receive bronze medallions, and runners-up will receive Certificates of Excellence.

In Washington, a distinguished national selection committee will name 10 of the 102 State Honorees as America’s top youth volunteers of the year. These National Honorees 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.

“Middle and high school students nationwide are making their mark on their communities through volunteer service,” said JoAnn Bartoletti, executive director of NASSP. “We are honored to celebrate their initiative, their dedication, and the powerful example they’ve set for their peers.”