Eastern Idaho teens honored for volunteer efforts

Two eastern Idaho teens were honored in Washington, D.C., for their volunteer service.

Chandler Beard, 18, of Ashton and Tracie Bates-Orgill, 14, of Rigby, were honored at the 20th annual presentation of The Prudential Spirit of Community awards at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History on Sunday. They each received $1,000, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip with a parent to Washington for the four days of events. The awards were presented by “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts.

Chandler a senior at North Fremont High School, helped raise more than $10,000 over the past three years to benefit local people with breast cancer by organizing an annual volleyball game and breast cancer awareness night. Her efforts started when her best friend’s mother was diagnosed.

“When she told us how expensive radiation was and how often she had to travel to receive the health care she needed, I wanted to do anything I could to help,” said Chandler in a news release from Prudential Financial and the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Tracie, an eighth-grader at Rigby Middle School, serves senior citizens in her community by preparing and delivering Meals on Wheels and by raising nearly $1,000 to replace the old and problem-prone delivery van used in the program. She said she got involved because she enjoys being around seniors at the local senior center.

“I loved visiting with them,” she said. “I would sit and listen to them. I learned more about the past then I would in a history class and it was much more interesting.”

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program was created in 1995 by by Prudential and NASSP to recognize young people for outstanding volunteer service, and to inspire others.

“These honorees represent the best of what America’s youth have to offer,” said G.A. Buie, president of NASSP. “They have set a powerful example for their peers by proving that one young person really can make a difference, and it is a privilege to shine a spotlight on their good works.”