Stephanie Jennis Named Top Youth Volunteer in NJ

Stephanie Jennis, a 16-year-old sophomore at Montville Township High School, has been named one of New Jersey's top two youth volunteers for 2012 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism, the awards program announced.

Jennis, who was nominated by the high school for the recognition, helped her family start a nonprofit organization, Pathways for Exceptional Children, that has raised more than $500,000 over the past nine years to fund programs that promote the inclusion of children with disabilities in schools and communities.

She then launched a project called “Include ME!,” to promote inclusion not only for kids with disabilities, but for others who feel ostracized as well, according to an awards program news release.

“My brother, Jacob, has multiple disabilities and has always been my source of inspiration,” Jennis said.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards is in its 17th year. The program is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

After focusing on children with disabilities through her family’s charity and through her own project, she realized there are other children who feel unaccepted and isolated by their peers.

“My purpose for ‘Include ME!’ has grown from including children with disabilities toward uniting all children in an effort to terminate bullying and promote acceptance of diversity across all platforms,” she said.

Working with 25 students she recruited from five communities, Jennis made presentations to legislators, education officials, businesses and other organizations. The group also prepared programs for school assemblies to promote inclusion, as well as to encourage students to become leaders in the movement. In addition, Jennis and her fellow volunteers sold T-shirts and sponsored a walkathon and a 5k race to raise $40,000, which will help expand Jennis' program across the state.

“My vision is to make Include ME! a national campaign where all children can feel they belong,” she said.

Giovanna Boyle, 13, of Montclair, was the state's other winner, nominated for working with her mother and two other adults to create a charitable organization that connects young people in her town with children living in poverty in Brazil.

As state honorees, Jennis and Boyle each will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion, and a paid trip in early May to Washington, D.C., where they will join the top two honorees from each of the other states and the District of Columbia for several days of events.

Ten of them will be named America’s top youth volunteers for 2012 at that time.

“Through their selfless acts of service, these award recipients have greatly improved the lives of others,” Prudential Chairman and CEO John Strangfeld said. “We hope their stories and their dedication inspire other young people to do the same.”

"We are so pleased to celebrate these student volunteers,” said JoAnn Bartoletti, executive director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. “It’s important to highlight them as powerful examples of how young people can make a difference."