Kayce Welch, a senior at Texas High School, was selected as The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Distinguished Finalist for 2015. Nine additional students in the state were honored with this award along with two State Honorees. An estimated 25,000 students across the country were considered for state-level recognition.
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, now in its 20th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NAASP). The award represents the United States’ largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteer service and is designed to emphasize the importance our nation places on service to others, and to encourage all young Americans to contribute to their communities.
Kayce Welch, daughter of Robin and Randy Hilton, created the “One of a Kind” project to help raise funds and awareness of juvenile diabetes, the disease she was diagnosed with at age 11, and has so far raised $3,000 through a charity walk to support a summer camp for children with diabetes. Kayce is currently planning, a “One of a Kind Gala for Diabetes,” to be held in the spring of 2015, which she hopes will raise at least $30,000 to help fund research into a cure.
“These students have not only improved their communities through their exemplary volunteer service, but also set a fine example for their peers,” said JoAnn Bartoletti, executive director of NAASP. “Each of their stories is proof of the impact one young person can have when they decide to make a difference.”
