The following students were named the top youth volunteers in Oklahoma for 2013 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, presented by Prudential Financial and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

Perrin Duncan

Perrin Duncan, 17, of Edmond, Okla., a senior at North High School, was a dedicated fundraiser for an annual charity drive at her school before becoming co-chair of its 2012 campaign, which yielded more than $280,000 for the Sooner Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In 1994, students at Perrin’s high school began a tradition of raising money for a different charity each year. Perrin had heard about the annual campaign, called BALTO (“Bring A Light To Others”), from her older brother and friends. They “told me what an amazing philanthropic fundraiser it was,” she said. “I wanted to get involved as soon as I could, as I have always had a desire to help others.”  As soon as Perrin entered high school, she volunteered to raise funds for the campaign. She wrote letters, planned events, and participated in a variety of other fundraising activities. That year, Perrin personally raised $3,600. The next year, inspired by a fellow student who was battling terminal cancer, Perrin raised $5,000 for Oklahoma’s Children’s Hospital Foundation. In recognition of her passion and commitment, she was named co-chair of BALTO the following year. Working with her fellow co-chair, Perrin picked the state’s Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to be the beneficiary of the 2012 fundraising project, decided on a theme for the campaign, selected 130 students to be official fundraisers, and oversaw 20 special events. “Money started flowing in October and with every event, a new record was set,” she said. The final tally, $282,145, exceeded the year’s goal by more than 40 percent. “It was one of the most rewarding and stressful years of my life,” said Perrin, “but I wouldn’t change my experience for anything.”

Mason Harvey

Mason Harvey, 13, of Guthrie, Okla., an eighth-grader at Guthrie Junior High School, has become a crusader against childhood obesity after shedding 85 pounds in the seventh grade. “Once upon a time, I was very unhealthy, overweight, and picked on by bullies,” said Mason. “In the sixth grade, at my heaviest, 206 pounds, I told my parents I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.” He started exercising and making smarter food choices, and by the beginning of the next school year, he had dropped an astonishing 85 pounds “and felt awesome!” he said.  Recognizing that childhood obesity is a big problem nationally, Mason figured he could use his example to persuade other overweight kids that they, too, can slim down. Since he regarded 85 as his “magic number,” he resolved to meet 85 important or famous people who could help him tell his story, and host or attend 85 events to raise awareness of childhood obesity. So he spends much of his free time reaching out to people and planning or appearing at special events. His celebrity encounters have included First Lady Michelle Obama and the mayor of Oklahoma City, who invited him to the State of the City address. He has organized several fitness events and participated in many others, and works hard to promote each one. In addition, Mason speaks in front of school assemblies and other groups, accompanied by a slide show. “I am the boy that could barely finish exercise during football and now I run 5Ks,” he said. “Don’t let people tell you it can’t be done. Believe with all of your heart and do it.”