Youth advocates Arturo “AJ” Mattia and Samantha Petersen were among the Top 10 Youth Volunteers of 2015 honored by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a national program sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
Mattia, of Turnersville, N.J., a freshman at Holy Cross Academy, survived bone cancer and a leg amputation to become a prominent champion for pediatric cancer awareness and fundraising.
Petersen, of South Windsor, Conn., a home-schooled senior, founded a nonprofit organization that disseminates information about scoliosis, screens children in low-income communities for the disease, and offers emotional support for children who undergo corrective surgery. Petersen’s story will be featured in the June issue of O&P News.
The honorees were selected first from a field of more than 33,000 middle-level and high school youth volunteers nationwide, and then from 102 state honorees, based on their initiative, effort, impact and the personal growth demonstrated in the course of their volunteer service.
The honorees were congratulated by “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts at a gala dinner reception at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. Each state honoree received a $1,000 award. The national honorees each received $5,000 personal awards, engraved gold medallions, crystal trophies for their schools, and $5,000 grants from The Prudential Foundation for charities of their choice.
Reference:
“Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts congratulates Arturo “AJ” Mattia (center) and William Cook (right) on being named New Jersey’s top two youth volunteers for 2015 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.
Source: Zach Harrison Photography
“Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts congratulates Samantha Petersen (center) and Holly Johnson (right) on being named Connecticut’s top two youth volunteers for 2015 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.
Source: Zach Harrison Photography
