Prudential Financial Inc. is expecting big things of 25 young people who have proposed "fresh, innovative solutions" to pressing financial and societal challenges in their communities across the U.S.
The inaugural class of Prudential Emerging Visionaries, made up of individuals aged 14 to 18, is an outgrowth of the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, which are given annually to middle- and high-school students for excellence in community service.
"The students we're honoring have a sense of possibility that drives them to look beyond themselves. Their vision and dedication are key to creating fully inclusive communities, and we are humbled and inspired by their work," said Charles Lowrey, Prudential's chairman and CEO, in a news release.
Winners receive one of two awards: the Financial Solutions for a Changing World Award and the Societal Solutions for a Changing World Award. Each winner will receive $5,000 in funding for their ideas and will be invited to participate in an awards summit on April 23-26.
Of the 25 winners, five received awards for their proposed financial solutions. They include Ella Gupta, 17, of Raleigh, N.C., who started the Initiative for Financial Literacy Exploration, which addresses gender economic inequality through financial education for young women; Isaac Hertenstein, 15, of Greencastle, Ind., who founded Students Teaching Finance, which empowers high school students to teach the importance of financial education to K-8 students; and Faaris Zuberi, 17, of Rockville, Md., who is leader of the Financial Literacy Introduction Program, which teaches financial literacy to student members of the Youth Economic Initiative, a worldwide coalition of economics clubs.
