Nina Faynshtayn, a student at West Hartford’s William H. Hall High School, has been recognized nationally through the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program.

Submitted by Amy Shaffer, Student Activities/Career Center Coordinator, Hall High School

Nina Faynshtayn, 17, a student at William H. Hall 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.

Hall High School nominated Nina for national honors this fall in recognition of her volunteer service. For the past three summers, Nina has volunteered at the Newington VA Medical Center. She enjoys her interactions with the veterans and said, “It is important to me to serve people who have served our country.”

Hall Principal Dan Zittoun commended Nina on her work, adding, “Nina is one of the hardest working students at Hall. I have been continually impressed not only with the depth of activities in which she participates, but also the quality of her work with those activities.”

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.

“Across the United States, young volunteers are doing remarkable things to contribute to the well-being of the people and communities around them,” said Prudential CEO Charles Lowrey. “Prudential is honored to celebrate the contributions of these students, and we hope their stories inspire others to volunteer, too.”

“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 application details were distributed nationwide last September through middle level and high schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs, and Affiliates of Points of Light’s HandsOn Network. 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, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards selected State Honorees, Distinguished Finalists and Certificate of Excellence recipients. Volunteer activities were judged on criteria including initiative, effort, impact, and personal growth.

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