Katherine Burke, of Bennett’s Mill Middle School 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 presented by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program on behalf of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. Katherine Burke participated in the Spirit of Community Program this year as a representative of Bennett’s Mill Middle School in Fayetteville, Georgia.

Katherine earned her award by working with special needs students. Katherine created home-made t-shirts for the students of Bennett’s Mill Middle School’s Special Olympic team. She also put together scrapbooks of the students as a Christmas gift for their families. At the end of the school year, Katherine prepared calendars for the following year with pictures highlighting the special needs students and all of their accomplishments throughout the previous school year.

Katherine says, “I would encourage other young people to give everyone a chance and they must get over their “fears” of the special education students and become involved. Other young people need to know that conditions are not contagious but they can catch a great deal more if they truly connect with one of the kids. Once you are able to connect, you will have the best feeling in the world.”

Sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program recognizes young people across American for outstanding community service activities. More than 250,000 young people across America have been considered for these awards since the program began in 1995.

“The recipients of these awards vividly demonstrate that young people across America are making remarkable contributions to the health and vitality of their communities,” said John R. Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial. “They truly deserve all of the praise and encouragement we can give them.”

“The young people recognized by the Spirit of Community Awards demonstrate an enormous capacity for giving and reaching out to those in need,” said Gerald N. Tirozzi, executive director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. “NASSP is proud to honor them as they are wonderful examples of the high caliber of young people in our nation’s schools today.”

Program applications were distributed last September through all public and private middle level and high school, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of HandsOn Network. After Local Hornorees were named, state-level judges selected State Honorees, Distinguished Finalists and Certificate of Excellence recipients. Volunteer activities were judged on criteria such as personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact, and personal growth.

NASSP, based in Reston, VA, is the preeminent organization of and national voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals and aspiring school leaders from across the United States and more than 45 countries around the world. Prudential Financial, based in Newark, NJ, provides more than 50 million individual and institutional customers worldwide with life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds, investment management, and real estate services.

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