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Two New Hampshire Youth Honored for Volunteerism at National Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C.New Hampshire's top two youth volunteers of 2015, Daniel Iacopucci, 18, of Belmont and Elizabeth Hughes (News - Alert), 11, of Bedford, were honored in the nation's capital last night for their outstanding volunteer service during the 20th annual presentation of The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Daniel and Elizabeth - along with 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country - each received $1,000 awards and personal congratulations from "Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts at an award ceremony and gala dinner reception held at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. 
"Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts congratulates Daniel Iacopucci, 18, of Belmont (center) and Elizabeth Hughes, 11, of Bedford (right) on being named New Hampshire's top two youth volunteers for 2015 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Daniel and Elizabeth were honored at a ceremony on Sunday, May 3 at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, where they each received a $1,000 award. (Photo: Zach Harrison Photography) The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), named Daniel and Elizabeth New Hampshire's top high school and middle level youth volunteers in February. In addition to their cash awards, they each received an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip with a parent to Washington, D.C., for four days of recognition events. Daniel, a senior at Belmont High School, created a picnic area and perennial garden along the Winnepesaukee-Opechee-Winnisquam (WOW) Trail, a paved walking and biking trail in a neighboring community, last year. Daniel loves the outdoors, so when he was looking for ideas for a service project, he started thinking about a relatively new trail running along a picturesque lake in nearby Laconia, and ways he could add to the enjoyment of those who use it. "I wanted to create a place for people and families of all ages to enjoy together and felt it was important because families don't spend as much time together as they should," said Daniel. "I thought it would be nice if people could enjoy a nice walk on the trail and then stop for lunch at the site." He sold the town's director of parks and recreation on the idea of creating a picnic area and garden, and then wrote letters to local businesses seeking money and supplies. Next, he recruited about 20 volunteers and went to work digging the garden and planting trees, flowers and shrubs, which Daniel watered almost every day. After collecting wood from a local lumberyard, he worked with his father and grandfather to build and stain a picnic table; and acquired a second table by cleaning the parking lot at a donor's business. The project took four months to complete. Now, "families and trail users of all ages will have a place to rest and have a bite while enjoying the beauty of the lake and garde," said Daniel. Elizabeth, a member of the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains in Bedford and a home-schooled fifth-grader, has spent eight weeks over the past two years volunteering in foreign countries with her family, donating supplies and working on construction projects. Elizabeth has been participating in her family's nonprofit organization, "Color My World," since she was 3 years old. "We have been volunteering as a family since I learned to walk," said Elizabeth. "I love volunteering and working with people." She began her volunteer work by collecting and packaging hygiene items with her older siblings for distribution to victims of natural disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. For the past two years, Elizabeth has traveled with her family and other volunteers to Costa Rica, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic to deliver hygiene kits and toys; build houses, latrines and playgrounds; provide support for libraries; teach art classes; and help feed children living in poverty. Closer to home, Elizabeth and her family also have volunteered at a local women's homeless shelter, and collected Thanksgiving baskets for struggling families in their community. "I would tell other people that you are never too young to start volunteering," said Elizabeth. "All you have to do is reach out and be a friend to someone." "As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, we are delighted to recognize the 2015 honorees for their exemplary volunteer service," said John Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc. "These young people have demonstrated leadership, compassion and perseverance, and we look forward to seeing all they accomplish in the future." "These honorees represent the best of what America's youth have to offer," said G.A. Buie, president of NASSP. "They have set a powerful example for their peers by proving that one young person really can make a difference, and it is a privilege to shine a spotlight on their good works." Youth volunteers in grades 5-12 were invited to apply for 2015 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards last fall through schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of the HandsOn Network. More than 33,000 middle level and high school students nationwide participated in this year's program. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program was created in 1995 to identify and recognize young people for outstanding volunteer service - and, in so doing, inspire others to volunteer, too. In the past 20 years, the program has honored more than 100,000 young volunteers at the local, state and national level. For more information about The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and this year's honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit. About NASSP The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and school leaders from across the United States and 35 countries around the world. The association connects and engages school leaders through advocacy, research, education, and student programs. NASSP advocates on behalf of all school leaders to ensure the success of each student and strengthens school leadership practices through the design and delivery of high-quality professional learning experiences. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Association of Student Councils. For more information about NASSP, located in Reston, VA, visit www.nassp.org. About Prudential Financial Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management. In the U.S., Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit www.news.prudential.com. Editors: For full-color pictures of the Spirit of Community Awards program logo and medallions, click here: http://bit.ly/Xi4oFW For B-roll of New Hampshire's honorees at the 2015 national recognition events, contact Prudential's Harold Banks at (973) 216-4833 or [email protected].
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