Merrimack High Senior Receives President's Volunteer Award

Hannah Vaccaro, 17, a student at Merrimack High School, has been honored for her exemplary volunteer service with a President’s Volunteer Service Award.

The award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country, was granted by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program on behalf of President Barack Obama. Merrimack High School nominated Hannah for national honors this fall in recognition of her volunteer service.

Hannah has been an example of serving others by founding and leading two different charity marathons: "Race to Lace" and "Running Water." Hannah’s inspiration for the marathons came from the need for shoes and clean water that she observed while in Haiti on a church sponsored mission trip.  Hannah brought faculty and students together to volunteer; partnered with local businesses; and coordinated advertising and other logistics in order to make the marathons a reality.  Both of the marathons were great successes-both in supplying needs and by bringing people together for a noble cause.

"My small dream of collecting shoes for people in need exploded to become an annual nonprofit 5K," Hannah said. "The world is full of hurting people in need, and it only takes a small idea and a willing heart to transform lives."

"Hannah may be the most giving, caring, selfless student I have worked with over the past thirty years," said Merrimack High School Principal Ken Johnson.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), recognizes middle level and high school students across America for outstanding volunteer service.

"The recipients of these awards demonstrate that young people across America are making remarkable contributions to the health and vitality of their communities,” said John Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial. “By recognizing these students and placing a spotlight on their volunteer activities, we hope to motivate others to consider how they can also contribute to their community."

"Demonstrating civic responsibility through volunteerism is an important part of life," said NASSP Executive Director JoAnn Bartoletti. "These honorees practice a lesson we hope all young people, as well as adults, will emulate."

Prudential Spirit of Community Award applications were distributed nationwide last September through middle level and high schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and HandsOn Network affiliates. These schools and officially-designated local organizations nominated Local Honorees, whose applications were advanced for state-level judging. In addition to granting President’s Volunteer Service Awards on behalf of President Barack Obama, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards selected State Honorees, Distinguished Finalists and Certificate of Excellence recipients. Volunteer activities were judged on criteria including personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth.