Wantage eighth-grader gets state honor

Ashley Craig recognized for volunteer service Sussex — Ashley Craig, 13, of Wantage has been honored for her exemplary volunteer service with a state-level Certificate of Excellence from The 2010 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program. Ashley was nominated for this award by Sussex Middle School, where she is an eighth-grader. Presented annually by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), The award honors young people across America for outstanding community service activities. Ashley also has received a President’s Volunteer Service Award, which recognizes Americans who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country. Ashley earned her awards by her volunteer activity with a service organization called Lean on Us. The goal of the activity was to solicit donations of school supplies through school, church and community organizations and have the supplies distributed to students and families in need in the community so they would not be without necessary school supplies that their families may not be able to buy. “The most important thing that I learned from my experience is that anything can be accomplished if you work hard enough and when people work together great things can happen,” said Ashley. Sussex Middle School principal Sharon Hosking called Ashley “a true inspiration for all our young people.” The Spirit of Community award. now in its 15th year, also recognizes the top middle level and high school volunteer in each state and the District of Columbia, and will name America’s top 10 youth volunteers in May. “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. Program applications were distributed last September through all public and private middle level and high schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCA’s and affiliates of HandsOn Network. After local honorees 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.