FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 7, 2001
David Mericle, 17, a senior at Madison Memorial High School, has been selected by a nationwide program as one of the top two youth volunteers in Wisconsin for 2001.
Mericle is being honored by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. Mericle and Britta Cook of Chippewa Falls will each receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip in May to Washington, D.C. where they will join the top two honorees from each of the other states.
Mericle established a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve relations between the United States and Cuba by creating opportunities for students in the two countries to meet and become friends. It began when he spearheaded the development of an education Web site about Cuba. After the Web site won an international award, David expanded his efforts by using his prize money to found a student exchange program. He led a delegation of local students to the Cuban city of Camaguey, where they delivered donations of medical supplies and computer equipment.
The awards program is now in its sixth year and is sponsored by The Prudential Insurance Company in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals. In May ten of the 104 state honorees will be named America's top ten youth volunteers of the year by a national selection committee.
For more information on this awards program look for "Top Volunteers Named" at http://www.prudential.com.
Public Information Office
545 W. Dayton St.
Madison, WI 53703
608-266-6270
email: newsrelease@madison.k12.wi.us
Last Modified: 2001-02-07
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