HHS Senior Wins Prudential
Service Award
One of the top members of the Class of 2013, Nikki Smoot has been named the Huntington High School Volunteer of the Year in the 2013 Prudential Spirit of the Community Awards program. Huntington senior Todd Colvin earned a certificate of merit for his volunteer community service.
“Young people who contribute their time and talents to their communities are role models for all of us,” said John R. Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial. “We salute their dedication, their achievements and their spirit of community.”
Sponsored by Prudential Financial and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the awards recognize outstanding community service by young Americans. Ms. Smoot is now eligible for the New York youth volunteer of the year awards. Two state honorees, one middle school and one high school, will be named in February 2013. Each will receive a $1,000 award, a silver medallion and a trip to Washington, DC for recognition ceremonies next May. Other honorees will receive bronze medallions or certificates of excellence.
At next spring’s event in Washington, DC, ten national honorees will be named and each of the teenagers will receive an additional $5,000 award, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their school and a $5,000 grant from The Prudential Foundation for a non-profit charitable organization of their choice.
“Receiving recognition would not only provide me with a scholarship for college and recognize my volunteer efforts, but will allow me to inspire other young people to volunteer as much time as possible throughout their communities,” Ms. Smoot said.
Ms. Smoot has been a student in the Huntington School District since enrolling for kindergarten. She is the president of Huntington High School’s National Honor Society chapter, vice-president of the school’s Habitat for Humanity chapter, treasurer of the yearbook business club and co-chair of Huntington’s Relay For Life that will be held next spring. She is also on the crew team.
Ms. Smoot’s application for the award focused on her work on behalf of the American Cancer Society. She was one of the volunteers at Huntington’s first Relay For Life event last June, chaired the survivorship committee and captained a team of 15 participants in the sprawling initiative. She hopes next spring’s Relay For Life is even “bigger and better.”
“Demonstrating civic responsibility through community volunteerism is an important part of life,” NASSP Executive Director JoAnn Bartoletti said. “These honorees practice a lesson we hope all young people, as well as adults, will emulate.”