Shorewood Girl Scout named top Wisconsin youth volunteer

Ananya Murali one of two Wisconsin Prudential Spirit of Community Award recipients

MILWAUKEE – Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast Girl Scout Ambassador Ananya Murali, 17, of Shorewood was recently named one of Wisconsin's top two youth volunteers of 2016 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, now in its 21st year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

Ananya, a senior at Shorewood High School and girl member of the Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast board of directors, designed and conducted an educational leadership camp to teach more than 100 middle school girls life skills and strategies to stand up against bullying and other forms of aggression in school. Ananya became interested in that subject when her family experienced harassment and discrimination after moving from India to the U.S. “They started smashing our car windshields and tires and saying ‘Go back to your country, we don’t want you here,’” said Ananya. She did some research and learned that bullying is a huge problem in schools, especially for minority children. “I was determined to take action,” she said.

With $2,000 in grant money and the help of several dozen youth and adult volunteers, Ananya developed an anti-bulling/leadership curriculum and then organized a camp at a local middle school called “Step-Up Against Bullying and Violence.” The more than 100 girls in attendance heard national and local speakers, took part in group discussions and team-building activities, learned peace songs written by Ananya and participated in a yoga session. By completing this project she earned her Girl Scout Gold Award in 2015.

Since then, Ananya has conducted her camp at other schools, Girl Scout gatherings, Native American reservations, an international youth peace conference and five schools in India. Because of her efforts, Ananya was invited to be a delegate and speaker at the United Nation’s 59th Commission on the Status of Women.

As a State Honorees, Ananya will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all- expense-paid trip in early May to Washington, D.C., where she will join the top two honorees from each of the other states and the District of Columbia for four days of national recognition events. During the trip, 10 students will be named America’s top youth volunteers of 2016.

“Prudential commends each of these young volunteers for using their creativity and compassion to bring positive change to their communities,” said Prudential Chairman and CEO John Strangfeld. “We hope their stories inspire others to consider how they can make a difference, too.”
 
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About Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast
Ranked #3 out of 112 councils nationally in overall girl market share and #1 for girls in grades K-5, Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast (GSWISE) is 36,000 strong - 29,000 girls in grades K-12 and 7,000 adults who believe every girl can change the world. Girl Scouts began over 100 years ago with one woman, Girl Scouts’ founder Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low, who believed in the power of every girl. Today we continue the Girl Scout mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. We’re the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. And with programs in Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha counties, there’s a chance for every girl in our council to do something amazing. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit gswise.org or call 800-565-4475.

About The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards represents the United States’ largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteer service. All public and private middle level and high schools in the country, as well as all Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and HandsOn Network affiliates, were eligible to select a student or member for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award. These Local Honorees were then reviewed by an independent judging panel, which selected State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists based on criteria including personal initiative, effort, impact and personal growth.

While in Washington, D.C., the 102 State Honorees – one middle level and one high school student from each state and the District of Columbia – will tour the capital’s landmarks, meet top youth volunteers from other parts of the world, attend a gala awards ceremony at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, and visit their congressional representatives on Capitol Hill. On May 2, 10 of the State Honorees – five middle level and five high school students – will be named America’s top youth volunteers of 2016. These National Honorees will receive additional $5,000 awards, gold medallions, crystal trophies and $5,000 grants from The Prudential Foundation for nonprofit charitable organizations of their choice.

Since the program began in 1995, more than 115,000 young volunteers have been honored at the local, state and national level. The program also is conducted by Prudential subsidiaries in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Ireland, India, China and Brazil. In addition to granting its own awards, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program also distributes President’s Volunteer Service Awards to qualifying Local Honorees on behalf of President Barack Obama.
For information on all of this year’s Prudential Spirit of Community State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists, visit http://spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit.