Local youth wins service award<BR>

Chino Valley High School junior John Killian recently received national recognition for his community service during a celebration in Phoenix.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism, hosted a reception for local honorees on Saturday, April 17.

Killian received his award for welding hog panels and then constructing them into pens for a local livestock exposition.

Awards officials said by devoting a few hours of spare time Killian was able to help the livestock exposition open on time and provide participants with quality, safe pens to house the hogs.

Prudential Financial's Phoenix Event Coordinator Robin Hanson said the program grooms youth volunteers into leaders.

"The student volunteers in our area are truly incredible and take the passion of community involvement to a whole new level," she said.

Prudential Financial Inc., in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) created the national awards program, now in its ninth year.

In addition to the celebration, Governor Janet Napolitano proclaimed April 17 as Arizona "Spirit of Community Day" and each honoree received a signed certificate. All public and private middle level and high schools in the country were eligible to nominate a student for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award this past November. Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs, Camp Fire USA councils and Volunteer Centers were also eligible to nominate student volunteers for the awards program

All local honorees are reviewed by state-level judges based on criteria including personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth.