Youth Award Recipient Shares Credit With Twin

A Studio City boy was named California’s top middle-school volunteer by the Prudential Spirit of Community awards program. But the program actually honored two students, not one, said the recipient.

Sponsored by the Prudential Insurance Co. of America in partnership with the National Assn. of Secondary School Principals, the program selected one middle school and one high school student from each of the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico who exhibited outstanding volunteerism.

Theo Milonopoulos, a sixth-grader at Curtis School in Los Angeles, received the top middle-school honor.

But the 12-year-old said he can’t claim all the credit. His fraternal twin brother, Niko, contributed equally to the volunteer project that won Theo the recognition. The brothers, however, could submit only one name.

“It wasn’t really that big of a deal whose name was on there,” said Theo. “It’s really both our project.”

Since March last year, the brothers have been collecting signatures from youths under 18 for a petition to ban the sale of bullets in the city of Los Angeles.

They were inspired by the shooting death of Ennis Cosby, who was killed a block away from their school, and by the North Hollywood bank robbery shooting.

So far, the brothers have collected 5,000 signatures. When they reach 50,000, they intend to present the petition to the Los Angeles City Council.

In May, Theo will head to Washington, D.C., with his mother on an expenses-paid trip to collect his silver medallion and $1,000 cash reward. In Washington, 10 winners will be selected to receive a gold medallion and $5,000.

The other top California youth volunteer is Ariane Wilson, 17, of Menlo Park.

A total of 104 students were chosen out of nearly 20,000 applicants, according to Jamie Chasinov, an awards spokesperson.

She said the program looks for youths who “create solutions to problems in their communities.”

Prudential judges also recognized 10 other California students as Distinguished Finalists, including Chelsea Norell of Woodland Hills and Veronica Pomeroy of Calabasas. Both 12-year-olds will receive a bronze medallion.