Kennedy Student Named Distinguished Finalist in National Program

A Kennedy High School senior was named a distinguished finalist by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards for volunteerism, according to a report on MarketWatch.

Kayla Babbush, 17, of Merrick, was recognized for establishing Teens for Life, an organization through which she has coordinated CPR and Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) training for more than 1,200 students. Babbush has also lobbied New York legislators to one day have CPR training mandated for high school students.

"Through their selfless acts of service, these award recipients have greatly improved the lives of others," Prudential Chairman and CEO John Strangfeld said. "We hope their stories and their dedication inspire other young people to do the same."

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards is a nationwide program honoring young people for exemplary acts of volunteerism. The awards program, now in its 17th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).