Ohio Connections Academy Student from Shaker Heights Honored for Community Service

Seth Lim of Shaker Heights, was among six Ohio Connections Academy (OCA) students recognized today as winners of the 2017 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program is the United States' largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer community service.

Seth, an eighth grader at the public online charter school, was presented a Certificate of Merit award in recognition of his volunteer work at the Outdoor Adventure Camp, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and the Columbia Baptist Church Food Pantry.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Award program was created in 1995 by Prudential in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) to honor middle school and high school students for outstanding service to others at the local, state, and national level.

“The faculty, staff and members of the board at Ohio Connections Academy are so proud of the students and the time and effort they have given to make a positive impact on their communities,” Marie Hanna, OCA Superintendent said. “Each of the students have demonstrated extraordinary leadership and a commitment to making our world a better place – they deserve this recognition and all that they shall receive in the future.”

The other Ohio Connections Academy students that were recognized for their volunteer efforts include:

• Edna Clark (9th grade, Napoleon, OH)
• Kasey Mottmiller (10th grade, Oregon, OH)
• Vanessa McCoy (11th grade, Gahanna, OH)
• Khalil Lafdi (9th grade, Dayton, OH)
• Santiago Pinzon (6th grade, Columbus, OH)

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards are supported by Girl Scouts of the USA, National 4-H Council, American Red Cross, YMCA, HandsOn Network (generated by the Points of Light Institute) and many other national youth, service and educational organizations. Learn more about the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards at http://spirit.prudential.com.

Ohio Connections Academy is a free, fully-online virtual public school that students in grades K-12 attend from home. OCA delivers high-quality, personalized education for students that combines certified teachers , a proven curriculum, as well as technology tools, and community experiences—online and in person—to create a supportive environment for children who want an individualized approach to education. More information about Ohio Connections Academy is available at www.OhioConnectionsAcademy.com.