Richard (Tre) Diemer, a seventh grader at Mater Christi School, in Burlington, has just received word that he is Vermont’s top Middle Level youth volunteer in the 2014 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program. As a State Honoree, Richard (Tre) will receive a $1000 award, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. for a series of national recognition events in May.

Tre developed plans to facilitate the use of reusable water bottles at MCS and install a sorting station for recyclables in the student dining room.  Mater Christi School prohibits the use of disposable of water bottles, a decision made by the school’s sponsoring body, the Sisters of Mercy, several years ago. Filling reusable water bottles from the school’s existing water coolers was difficult. Secondly, the only recycling resource for the school has been bins from Casella Waste, so Tre, with support from his parents came up with a plan to address the water bottle problem and encourage more recycling in the cafeteria.

Tre applied for a grant from CSWD which he received, and with some extra fund raising was able to get two water bottling stations, one for each of the school’s two buildings. Tre is now in the process of raising money for the cafeteria’s waste sorting station.

“Thousands of milk containers and other recyclables and compost will be saved from over-filled landfills” as a result of his projects, said Tre.

Tre resides in Shelburne with his parents, Jill and Michael Diemer, his brother, Tyler, and little sister, Lili.

While in Washington D. C., Tre, along with 101 other State Honorees – one middle level and one high school student from each state and the District of Columbia – will tour the capital’s landmarks, meet top youth volunteers from other parts of the world, attend a gala awards ceremony at the Smithsonian, and visit their congressional representatives. On May 5, ten of the State Honorees will be named America’s top youth volunteers of 2014. These National Honorees will receive additional $5,000 awards, gold medallions, crystal trophies and $5,000 grants from The Prudential Foundation for nonprofit organizations of their choice.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, now in its 19th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).