David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, honored several outstanding youth volunteers at the National Youth Summit with Presidential Volunteer Service Awards. To learn more about the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, click here.

Jessie Longhurst

Jessie did a tremendous amount of volunteer service during her life, but was killed in a car accident while in Australia at the age of 20. Her death devastated the college community. In a town of 8,000 people, 2,000 were at her funeral. Her whole life was about service. Recent efforts involved a Poetry Slam group with underprivileged youth and a mentoring program for college students and community youth. The community decided to immortalize her by continuing her legacy of mentoring and calling the program "Jessie's Gift". Jessie's sister Abby was at the conference and accepted Jessie's posthumors Presidential Volunteer Service Award and personalized message from the president.

Samantha Phelps and Heather Graves

Heather Graves and Samantha Phelps graduated from Mooresville High School in 2005. The two were integral members of their school's Project Ignition campaign, "In a Flash," part of a national program to promote safe driving among students. "In a Flash" was named the top student safe driving campaign for 2004-2005 by State Farm and the National Youth Leadership Council. Samantha and Heather led the project's School Activities Committee, which promoted safe driving through a series of fun activities for students. In the name of auto safety, the coleaders waved signs, handed out coupons and candy to students who buckled up as they left the school parking lot, and used their talents in more unusual ways: Heather organized a teacher boxing match (with inflatable gloves, of course) that warned students "Don't Punch the Numbers" on cell phones while driving. Samantha braved the dunk tank for a "Don't Drive Drunk" campaign and dressed up as a giant M&M candy to hand out free sweets to students who answered safe driving questions correctly. Heather and Samantha also assisted other Project Ignition committees with activities such as organizing and working at the Community Safe Driving Day.

Heather took honors classes at Mooresville High School. She will attend Ivy Technical Institute this fall and hopes to become a social worker.

An honors student, Samantha, will attend the University of Indianapolis this fall.

In his January 2002 State of the Union Address, President Bush called on every American to dedicate two years or 4,000 hours over the course of their lives to volunteer service. To help more Americans engage in volunteer service, he created USA Freedom Corps, an Office of the White House charged with strengthening and expanding volunteer service. Americans are responding to the President’s Call to Service. Studies show that approximately 5 million more Americans are volunteering today than just three years ago. Go to www.usafreedomcorps.gov or call 1-877-USA-CORPS to find an existing volunteer service opportunity in your area or to find more information about service programs. USA Freedom Corps is also highlighting youth volunteer service. Visit www.usafreedomcorpskids.gov for ideas designed to show how America's youth can make a difference.

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