Carson Cox, an eighth-grade student at Myrtle Beach Middle School, is one of two students named South Carolina’s top youth volunteers for 2008 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. The awards program, now in its 13^th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

As a State Honoree, Carson will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip in May to Washington, D.C., where he will join the top two honorees from each state and the District of Columbia for several days of national recognition events. Ten of the State Honorees will be named America’s top youth volunteers for 2008 at that time.

Carson spearheaded the remodeling and refurbishing of an outdated kitchen at a preschool for disadvantaged children. He got the project idea while volunteering with his mother and her church group at the Friendship House. Carson developed a master plan and engaged the help of local businesses and volunteers to install a new custom island, cleaned cabinets and countertops, painted walls, fixed the stove, waxed the floor and completed the renovation in just two weeks while on winter break from school. Carson purchased a new microwave, pots, pans, and utensils for the new kitchen.

In addition, Carson will receive a certificate and letter from President George W. Bush, having qualified for the President’s Volunteer Service Award for the number of volunteer hours served.