Suzanne Luff didn’t think a cut-up sock was the best kind of hat for a premature newborn. So she decided to do something about it.

Luff started making hats out of cozy yarns — and recruited others to join her.

So far, the 18-year-old’s program, called Hats-4-Hope, has donated more than 2,600 hats to Memorial Hospital system. Another 200 to 300 are nearly ready to hand over, she said.

Every year, about 5,000 babies are delivered in the Memorial Hospital system. The tiny hats are most important for premature arrivals, but all the babies are given handmade warmth.

Luff, a senior at Colorado Springs Christian High School, was recently named as one of Colorado’s top two youth volunteers for 2012 by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.

The nationwide program honors young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. The award program, now in its 17th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Students are nominated by their schools.

The idea for Luff’s project started a few years ago when her brother was born. He got a hat, which was cut from a thin sock. Keeping premature babies at a steady temperature is important.

“I can make things better than that,” she said she thought at the time.

The gift of a loom for Christmas fueled the concept, and Luff realized that tiny hats are easy to make.

“It started when I was in the eighth grade,” she said. Now, she has about 100 steady volunteers who help make the little hats. She makes hats, coordinates donations of yarn and delivers the finished hats to the hospital.

“Something so small as just a hat can help someone,” she said. “Not just to keep the babies’ warm but to give encouragement to the parents.”

She said there’s been a constant flow of donations and hat-makers. People like to help, she said.

Although Luff will graduate this spring, she plans to keep up with Hats-4-Hope. She might not hand over as many hats to the hospital as she balances college in the future, she said, but she doesn’t want the project to vanish.

Even a small idea can make a big difference, she said.

As one of Colorado’s two state honorees, Luff will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip in early May to Washington, D.C. Luff and the other winner, 14-year-old Christina Bear of Golden, will join the two honorees from each of the other states and the District of Columbia for several days of events. Ten will be named America’s top youth volunteers for 2012 at that time.

Luff is not the only local teen to be recognized with Prudential honors. Program judges recognized four other Colorado students as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities, including Jonathan Schwan, 15, of Colorado Springs.

A sophomore at Cheyenne Mountain High School, Jonathan has raised $21,000 selling T-shirts, skateboards and other products to support “Sk8-Strong,” a skateboarding program he implemented. He worked with the City Council to approve his program, and used the funds to improve city skate parks, sponsor competitions and host workshops on skateboarding safely.

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