Monica Delizo, an eighth grade student at Julius West Middle School, has been named one of Maryland’s top two youth volunteers for 2003 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program.

The nationwide program recognized Monica with $1,000 and a medal for organizing a school-wide book drive that collected more than 3,700 books for needy children. The books were donated to a local chapter of Boys and Girls Clubs and Ronald McDonald House at NIH. Monica and other volunteers at the school also visited some of the recipients and read to them.

The other top Maryland winner was Avidan Acherson of Baltimore, a senior at Beth Tfiloh Dahan High School.

Three additional Montgomery County Public Schools students were among six state finalists recognized for their impressive community service activities.

o Jeffrey Finkelstein, Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, designed and implemented a baseball program for underprivileged youth.

o Nora Jabbour, Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, created a basketball camp for 9-13 year olds while their parents worked or ran errands.

o Valerie Payne, John F. Kennedy High School, led volunteers to clean up and renovate a community bus stop in front of the school.