The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards begins its search for Georgia's top youth volunteers of 2017.

Now through November 8, 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' 22nd 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.

"After 21 years of conducting The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, it's clear that young volunteers across the United States are making meaningful contributions to their communities," said Prudential Chairman and CEO John Strangfeld. "By shining a spotlight on their service, we hope that more young people will be inspired to serve their communities and make a difference to the people around them."

Georgia's top youth volunteers of 2016 were Devneet Singh, 17, of Duluth and Damācia Howard, 13, of Union City. Devneet, Georgia's top high school volunteer, served as a mentor, teacher and friend to young refugees from Bhutan while working as a lead volunteer coordinator in Atlanta for SEWA, an international humanitarian organization. Damācia, Georgia's top middle level volunteer, has collected thousands of books in her community for students in Africa, working with a national charity called Books for Africa.

Applicants for 2017 awards must complete their online applications by November 8, 2016, 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 7, 2017. These State Honorees will receive $1,000 awards, engraved silver medallions, and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., with a parent or guardian for four days of recognition events May 6-9, 2017. 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.

"When students serve others through volunteer service, they set a compelling example for their peers in the process," said JoAnn Bartoletti, executive director of NASSP. "We look forward to celebrating the initiative and compassion of middle level and high school volunteers."