An Auburn-Lewiston YMCA board of directors meeting was held to present a silver medallion to Ted Blaisdell as state honoree in the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program. From left are Jim Lawler, YMCA; Blaisdell; Martin Bailey, Prudential financial representative; and parents, Robert and Tracey Blaisdell.

Blaisdell wins national award

AUBURN – Ted Blaisdell, 16, of Lewiston, has been selected as a 2008 state honoree in the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program.

Blaisdell, an active YMCA teen member, was nominated for the award by YMCA Executive Director Jim Lawler. The award program recognizes young people throughout the country for outstanding acts of volunteerism.

Blaisdell will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense paid trip in early May to Washington, D.C., for several days of national recognition events along with 10 other award winners from around the country.

Blaisdell has also been nominated to receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award presented by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.

A personal letter from President Bush accompanied the award certificate telling him of the honor.

Blaisdell spent countless hours developing an Appreciation Garden for the Good Shepherd Food Bank, with new trees, signs, picnic tables, benches and inspirational plaques.

Blaisdell had noticed, after seeing the facility’s grounds, that there was a need for improvement. He developed a landscaping plan, contacted businesses for donations and recruited fellow Boy Scouts.

When he was finally ready to begin, he had assembled a team of more than 40 volunteers.

His vision of building an attractive garden that would inspire visitors and provide a place for volunteer workers had come to fruition.