Salesianum Senior Honored With Service Award

Thomas B. Bounds of Hockessin, DE has been honored for his exemplary volunteer service with a state-level Certificate of Excellence from The 2006 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program. Thomas was nominated for this award by Salesianum School in Wilmington, where he is a student

Presented annually by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honor young people across America for outstanding community service activities.

Thomas earned his award by demonstrating exceptional initiative in service to the community, and has therefore been designated one of the top student volunteers in Delaware.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, now in its 11th 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 ten youth volunteers in May. More than 200,000 young people across America have been considered for these awards since the program begn in 1995.

"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 Art Ryan, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial. "They truly deserve all of the praise and encouragement we can give them."

"The young people recognized by the Spirit of Community Awards demonstrate an enormous capacity for giving and reaching out to those in need." Said Gerald N. Tirozzi, executive director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. "NASSP is proud to honor them as they are wonderful examples of the high caliber of young people in our nation's schools today."

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, YMCAs, and Volunteer Centers. 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.

Salesianum School is a Roman Catholic independent secondary school that teaches young men to "Live Jesus", guided by the spirituality of Saint Francis de Sales, through a college preparatory education, enabling them to take their place in the world as Salesian gentlemen.