Two Hawaii teens were recognized for their outstanding volunteerism with Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Radford High School student Alexandra Skrocki, 17, and Kaytlen Akau, 13, who attends Chiefess Kamaka­he­lei Middle School in Lihue, will receive $1,000 cash awards, engraved silver medallions and a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend a May 4 awards gala at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

Skrocki is a military dependent who has attended eight different schools in 13 years. For the past four years, she has hosted an annual Back to School Teen Party in her backyard designed to lessen the anxiety of students and military families entering a new community and school, according to a news release.

Skrocki plans icebreaker games and serves pizza and beverages. Parents can attend the last half-hour of the three-hour event to learn more about their teens’ new school.

She has also prepared home-cooked meals for single soldiers, mentored students of deployed parents and baked holiday cookies for active-duty service members.

Akau logged more than 300 volunteer hours last year as a dance studio assistant for children ages 3 to 10. She’s also a leader at a county enrichment program and has participated in events supporting the fight against diseases such as cancer or Alz­hei­mer’s.

For more information, visit nassp.org/spirit.