Allred wins Prudential Spirit of Community Award

Samuel Allred, 13, of Wasilla was named one of Alaska’s top two youth volunteers for the 2013 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a national program honoring middle level and high school students for outstanding volunteer service.

One of the program’s two Distinguished Finalists from Alaska also is from the Valley, Reese Qualls, 13, of Palmer.

Allred will receive $1,000, engraved silver medallions and all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., where he will join 100 other top youth volunteers from across the United States for four days of national recognition events.

The Distinguished Finalists each will receive engraved bronze medallions.

Allred, Alaska’s middle school winner, was honored for making travel-size pillows and distributing them to children’s hospitals across the country to provide comfort to sick kids.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, is the United States’ largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteer service.