Morlan, a junior at Loveland High School co-founded an educational program that has helped more than 11,000 students

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Morlan Osgood, 16, of Loveland and Rachel Prior, 12, of Tallmadge have been named Ohio’s top two youth volunteers of 2015 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. Morlan was nominated by Loveland High School in Loveland, and Rachel was nominated by Tallmadge Middle School in Tallmadge. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, now in its 20th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

Morlan, a junior at Loveland High School, co-founded an educational program that has helped more than 11,000 students in grades 2-12 develop their interest and skills in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math) through summer camps, after-school classes, conference workshops and other activities. Years ago, Morlan tutored a girl who hated math. Instead of using traditional tools such as flashcards, Morlan taught the girl how to use math concepts to program a LEGO robot. “The light bulb went off and she is now taking honors math courses!” said Morlan. “I realized if I could inspire one child, I could create a team to inspire hundreds.”

Morlan and her two brothers began recruiting other teens with strong STEM and interpersonal skills to teach and mentor kids, especially students who lack educational resources. Using LEGO robotic applications, the Osgoods and their “STEMs for Youth” organization now host seven summer camps and six after-school classes in Ohio, Missouri, Minnesota and the District of Columbia. They also make presentations at national and international conferences, and teach technology classes for senior citizens. Morlan has spent more than 2,000 hours over the past five years on all aspects of STEMs for Youth, including curriculum development, fundraising, event planning, promotion and collaboration with business people and school administrators. “We are making a difference!” said Morlan. “Over 80 percent of our participants want to pursue STEM subjects and careers!”

Rachel, a sixth-grader at Tallmadge Middle School, organized a foot race to raise money and awareness for United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), in honor of a close friend who has the neurological disorder, and then competed in the Cleveland Triathlon with that friend and 24 other kids that she recruited for the competition. Her friend, Ethan, “cannot talk or walk on his own, but he is one of my best friends,” said Rachel. “He is always happy even though he has to work very hard to do things that are simple for most people.”

In 2010, Rachel joined Team Ethan, a running group formed by Ethan’s parents to participate in fundraising events of UCP of Greater Cleveland. A few years later, she decided to create her own race so that she could help Team Ethan raise even more money to combat cerebral palsy. She and a few friends mapped out a race course, promoted the event with brochures and social media postings, persuaded local businesses to donate supplies and prizes, and supervised everything on race day. Over the past three years, Rachel’s “Elm Trail Race” has had more than 700 participants and raised over $7,500. Last year, Rachel competed with Ethan as a “youth push team” in the Cleveland Triathlon along with 24 friends, raising $5,000 for UCP.

As State Honorees, Morlan and Rachel each will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip in early May to Washington, D.C., where they 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 2015.

Distinguished Finalists

The program judges also recognized eight other Ohio students as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities. Each will receive an engraved bronze medallion.

Abigail Walouke, 18, of Mason, Ohio, is a Distinguished Finalists.

These are Ohio’s Distinguished Finalists for 2015:  (more…)