[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 62 (Tuesday, May 7, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S4810]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARDS

 Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, this morning I was privileged to 
honor North Dakota's recipients of the 1996 Prudential Spirit of 
Community Award, Kendal Alexander, a student attending the Erik Ramstad 
Middle School in Minot, and Jessica Schmidt, from Minot High School 
Magic City Campus. Kendall and Jessica are among 104 honorees 
representing each State, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico that 
were selected to receive the Prudential Spirit of Community Award in 
recognition of their exemplary contributions to community service.
  The Spirit of Community Initiative was organized last year by the 
Prudential Insurance Company of America, in partnership with the 
National Association of School Principals to encourage community 
involvement by young people, and to recognize community service 
contributions of America's youth. In the first year of the program, 
more than 7,000 young people working in various community service 
programs across the country were considered for the Prudential honors. 
One hundred four finalists were selected to receive the Prudential 
Spirit of Community recognition, an award including a silver medallion 
and a $1,000 cash award.
  Mr. President, at a time when so much attention in the press is 
focused on the problems of youth, I think it important to highlight the 
contributions of young people like Kendal and Jessica who are working 
to improve their communities, and to provide services to individuals in 
need.
  Kendal was honored for his work with a local food bank, highway 
improvement, to develop safe activities for children during Halloween 
and to assist senior citizens in nursing homes. Jessica, as president 
of the Minot High School Key Club, organized programs for nursing home 
residents, and a senior's prom for senior citizens in the Minot 
community. Kendal and Jessica deserve our sincere appreciation for 
their efforts to improve our communities. We can be proud that they are 
so committed to helping others, and that they represent our future. I 
also want to commend the Prudential Insurance Co. and the National 
Association of School Principals for establishing this outstanding 
program, and particularly, for encouraging young people to become 
involved in their communities.

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