Santa Cruz High School Student Wins Honor for Volunteerism

Santa Cruz High School student Holly Borg was named as a distinguished finalist Tuesday in the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.

The 17-year-old senior started the school's Interact Club and served as the Governor of Interact's District Council. Under her leadership, the district raised more than $100,000 to support ShelterBox International, an organization that provides long-term shelter for families affected by disaster.

She was one of 13 state honorees, including two of the top finalists, from Oceanside and Encino. See the complete list here.

Some of the things the two state honorees in California did included:

 Catherine Mitchell, 16, of Oceanside, created a business called “Beauty 4 Life” that enables women in Uganda to earn a living and educate their children by selling their handmade paper-bead jewelry in the U.S.

Cecilia Cassini, 12, of Encino, a seventh-grader at Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, has spoken to hundreds of children at schools, hospitals and shelters to encourage them to find their passions and follow their dreams, and to teach them about her own passion: sewing.

The program was started in 1995 to honor middle and high school students for volunteering

State Honorees receive an award of $1,000, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip with a parent or guardian to Washington, D.C., for national recognition events.

National Honorees receive an additional award of $5,000, an engraved gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their schools or organizations, and a $5,000 grant from The Prudential Foundation for a non-profit, charitable organization of their choice.