[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 16 (Thursday, February 26, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S1128]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               1998 PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARDS

 Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, today I am proud to 
congratulate and honor two West Virginia students for their unselfish 
and outstanding volunteer service in their communities. Mark Jones of 
North Marion High School in Farmington and Tasha Daft of Mannington 
Middle School in Mannington have been named State Honorees in the 1998 
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, an honor conferred on 
only one high school and one middle-level student in each state, the 
District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
  These young volunteers, Mark and Tasha are true inspirations to all 
of us. They are our future, and they are diligently working to ensure 
the preservation of their communities as insurance for a better 
tomorrow.
  The program that brought these young role models to our attention, 
The Prudential Spirit of Communities Awards, was created by The 
Prudential Insurance Company of America in partnership with the 
National Association of Secondary School Principals in 1995 to impress 
upon all youth volunteers that their contributions are critically 
important and highly valued, and to inspire other young people to 
follow their example.
  Mark is seen throughout his community as Cowboy Dave, his stage 
persona, sending a drug free message to youngsters. Since 1996, he has 
reached nearly 1,300 students speaking about drug and tobacco 
prevention. Tasha is the creator of the ``Flower Power,'' ``Trash, 
Treasure, Recycling,'' and ``Our World is Worth It'' projects. Through 
these she is able to help protect our earth and its inhabitants.
  Mark and Tasha should be extremely proud to have been singled out 
from such a large group of dedicated volunteers. As part of their 
recognition, they will come to Washington in early May for several days 
of special events including a Congressional breakfast reception on 
Capitol Hill.
  I highly applaud Mark and Tasha for their act in seeking to make 
their home communities a better place to live. I would also like to 
salute four other young students in my state who were named 
Distinguished Finalists by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards 
for their volunteer service. They are : Lisa Taylor of Ansted; Ryan 
Donovan of Williamson; Stephanie Cooper of Hambleton; and Heather 
Phillips of Winfield.
  All of these young people have demonstrated a level of commitment 
that is extraordinary and deserve our sincere admiration and respect. 
Their actions show how important young people are to our community and 
the valued asset they are to our world and future.

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