MMI Preparatory School junior Angelica Alday 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 granted by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program on behalf of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. MMI nominated Alday for national honors this fall in recognition of her volunteer service.
Alday, the daughter of Dr. Senen Alday and Milagros Azcueta-Alday, Mountaintop, has participated in several volunteer activities in the region. She was involved in the Junior Volunteer Program through Geisinger Hospital for two summers and worked in the supply department at Geisinger last summer. She also volunteered in the St. Vincent DePaul soup kitchen in Wilkes-Barre. For two years, she volunteered in her church as a teacher’s aide in religion class as well as playing violin in the church choir. This fall she started collecting shoes for the Shoe Drive to benefit the homeless shelter in Hazleton.
MMI Head of School D. Scott Wiggins said, “On behalf of the MMI community, I’d like to commend Angelica Alday on receiving such a prestigious national service award. At MMI, we encourage our students to give back to the community through participating in volunteerism and extracurricular activities. Service is one of our four pillars of excellence because we believe it’s an integral part of a student’s educational experience and growth. We encourage our students to get involved in activities that allow them to learn and have fun at the same time.”
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), recognizes middle level and high school students across America for outstanding volunteer service.
Prudential Spirit of Community Award applications were distributed nationwide last September through middle level and high schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and HandsOn Network affiliates. These schools and officially-designated local organizations nominated Local Honorees, whose applications were advanced for state-level judging. In addition to granting President’s Volunteer Service Awards on behalf of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards selected State Honorees, Distinguished Finalists and Certificate of Excellence recipients. Volunteer activities were judged on criteria including personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth.
“The recipients of these awards demonstrate that young people across America are making remarkable contributions to the health and vitality of their communities,” said John Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial. “By recognizing these students and placing a spotlight on their volunteer activities, we hope to motivate others to consider how they can also contribute to their community.”
“Demonstrating civic responsibility through 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.”
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