As proposed by Miami-Dade School Board member Mari Tere Rojas, the school board recently recognized Annie Farrell, senior from Coral Gables High School, for being named Florida’s high school winner for the 2017 Prudential Spirit of Community Award.
The 2017 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, is a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. Since its inception in 1995, more than 115,000 young volunteers have been honored at the local, state, and national level.
Each year, Prudential selects two students from each state, one from the middle school level and one from high school, to receive the award. Honorees are selected based on criteria that includes: personal initiative, effort, impact, and personal growth.
Annie was recognized for her volunteer work with Casa Valentina, a non-profit that houses and assists young people who have aged out of the foster care system. Her project centered on organizing college preparation workshops for the residents. The workshops assisted the students in navigating the complex, and often overwhelming, college application process. Working tirelessly toward her goal of helping the students of Casa Valentina, Annie marshaled all the resources necessary to make her project a reality.
“I am honored to recognize Ms. Farrell for her dedication and commitment to community service. Her initiative to make a positive impact in the community and help other is to be commended,” Rojas said.
