[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 11 (Thursday, February 12, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S787-S788]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




KATHLEEN JONES AND MOIRA DELAHANTY--WINNERS OF THE PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT OF 
 COMMUNITY AWARD AND CHRISTOPHER VACHON, CHRISTOPHER PAPPAJOHN, JOSEPH 
           ALLISON, JUSTINE BARRETT, DISTINGUISHED FINALISTS

 Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to 
congratulate Kathleen Jones and Moira Delahanty who have achieved 
national recognition for recieving the Prudential Spirit of Community 
Award. I commend their youthful spirit and aggressive drive to improve 
the quality of life in New Hampshire through community service.
  The award, presented by The Prudential Insurance Company of America 
in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School 
Principals, recognizes young people who have shown a great deal of 
commitment and dedication to improving their community. As New 
Hampshire's honorees,

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Kathleen and Moira will receive $1,000, a silver medallion and a trip 
in May to Washington, D.C., where they will join other honorees for 
four days of national events.
  According to Kathleen, she wanted to make a difference in her 
community and spend time helping others. As a result, she launched an 
environmental group called Earth Service Corps. Today, the group has 
nearly 70 members who help build and maintain hiking trails, initiate 
and conduct recycling programs, and plant trees throughout the state. 
Kathleen not only was the founder, but she also plans group meetings, 
serves as a liaison with community groups, and handles all 
administrative work for the Corps.
  Moira volunteers as an aide to a swimming instructor with the local 
chapter of the American Red Cross. She helps younger kids overcome 
their fears of water and then teaches them to swim. She completed a 
special training session and volunteered for one month over the course 
of two summers. Her love for teaching and her passion to help others 
overcome individual fears is a great attribute I admire dearly.
  I also would like to salute four other young people who were named 
Distinguished Finalists by The Prudential Spirit of Community Award and 
recieved the bronze medallion for their outstanding volunteer service. 
They are: Christopher Vachon, 14, Pinkerton Academy in Derry, created 
several multimedia presentations to promote driving safety among 
teenagers; Christopher Pappajohn, 16, Keene High School, raised $40,000 
with a group of friends to build a skate park in his town; Joseph 
Allison, 13, Hudson Memorial Middle School, volunteers in his community 
for a variety of nearby organizations; and Justine Barrett, 14, West 
Running Brook Middle School in Derry, helped collect money for the 
needy through a Holiday Fund at her school.
  These extraordinary young people continue to keep alive the virtue of 
community service and inspire others to do the same. Their personal 
initiatives, dedicated service and hard work have impacted the lives of 
many. In a time when Americans seem to be less involved in their 
communities, these young Americans continue to defend and keep the 
community flame shining brightly. Mr. President, I want to congratulate 
these individuals for their outstanding work and I am proud to 
represent them in the U.S. Senate.

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