WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - Feb 16, 2012) - This month, [ The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards ] singled out America's most outstanding youth volunteers to reward their good work and hold them up as examples for all of us -- kids and adults alike.

Established in 1995, [ The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards ] represents the United States' largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteer service and is run by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

This year's [ 102 State Honorees ] -- one middle-level and one high school student in each state and the District of Columbia -- each will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., May 5-8 for several days of recognition events. Another 234 students were named Distinguished Finalists and will receive engraved bronze medallions at local ceremonies.

These young volunteers have helped communities at home and abroad with activities including:

• Launching campaigns to combat bullying and intolerance in their communities
• Starting programs to feed children who might otherwise go hungry on weekends
• Developing microfinancing programs to help impoverished men and women overseas support their families by starting small businesses
• Arranging celebrity visits and dress-up days at hospitals to give patients a break from the stress of their illnesses
• Organizing community prescription drug take-backs
• Selling T-shirts, giving concerts and campaigning on Facebook to raise money for people displaced by last year's earthquake and tsunami in Japan

"Through their selfless acts of service, these award recipients have greatly improved the lives of others," said Prudential Chairman and CEO John Strangfeld. "We hope their stories and their dedication inspire other young people to do the same."

During national recognition events in Washington, D.C. this May, the [ 102 State Honorees ] will tour the capital's landmarks, attend a gala awards ceremony at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, and visit their congressional representatives on Capitol Hill. In addition, 10 of them (five middle level and five high school students) will be named National Honorees. These honorees will receive additional $5,000 awards, gold medallions, crystal trophies and $5,000 grants from The Prudential Foundation for nonprofit charitable organizations of their choice.

For information on the volunteer activities of all of the 2012 Honorees, please visit:
[ http://spirit.prudential.com ]

Join The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards on Facebook:
[ http://www.facebook.com/spiritawards ]

Follow The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards of Twitter:
[ https://twitter.com/pruspirit ]

Check out The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards on YouTube:
[ http://www.youtube.com/user/PruSpiritofCommunity ]

About NASSP
NASSP is the leading organization of and national voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and all school leaders from across the United States and more than 45 countries around the world. The association provides research-based professional development and resources, networking and advocacy to build the capacity of middle level and high school leaders to continually improve student performance. Reflecting its longstanding commitment to student leadership development as well, 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, investment management, and real estate services. 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 [ http://www.news.prudential.com/ ].