Mike Esser, President
Gwen Reed, Vice President
Bea Sanders, Treasurer
Tina Zubeck, Secretary
Sherry Ernst
Michelle Esswein
Sarah Hale
John Kurtz
Colleen Murphy
Jenni Riegel
Shannon Spellman
Logan Stanley
Kathy Swan
Mary Walsh
Holly Warden
Stacey Weddle
Dr. Paul Ziegler
Missouri Congressional Award Council 12555 Manchester Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63131
The Missouri Congressional Awards Council was established in June of 1994 by then US Senator John Danforth. Over the years the all-volunteer council has served the youth of Missouri by not only fostering participation in the Congressional Award program,but also by conducting an annual state-wide ceremony for bronze and silver medal recipients.
Working with national partnersing organizations, Character Plus, the St Louis Irish Arts, Boy Scouts of America, Girls Scouts of the USA and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, participation among youth in the state has grown tremendously. In 2008, the council was proud to watch the Hon Ike Skelton D.MO present a record 29 awards at its ceremony at the Missouri Governors Mansion.
If you or your organizaton would like more information on the award, please don't hesitate to contact any one of our board members. We look forward to working with you for the betterment of America's youth.
Respectfully,
Mike Esser
President, Missouri Congressional Award Council
Missouri State Ceremony
Each year, the Missouri Congressional Award Council celebrates the accomplishments of its Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medalists through the annual State Ceremony. The May event brings together medalists from across the state for a ceremony in Jefferson City.
Advisor Helen Gannon pictured with 2008 Congressional Award Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medalists from the St. Louis Irish Arts. Over fifteen Irish Arts participants were recognized at the 2008 Missouri State Ceremony.
The 2008 Missouri State Ceremony was held in the Governor's Mansion with Congressman Ike Skelton (MO04).
The 2009 Missouri State Ceremony was held in the Rotunda of the Missouri State Capitol Building with Rep. Roy Blunt and Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer.
Participant Spotlight
Demonstrating that service comes in various forms, Victoria Willingham has given hundreds of hours of her time to many different organizations, hoping to make a change within them all. As an advisor on the Kansas City Youth Commission, she has discussed and created better opportunities for young people such as herself through initiatives like National Youth Service Day. She also helped give Missouri youth a voice through her work on a teen radio show. Victoria’s service does not end there. She also volunteered at a nursing home, an AIDS walk, a school supply drive and at her former dance school, serving as a veteran volunteer. Victoria takes pride in knowing that she has had “an opportunity to affect people in diverse ways”.
As a young woman with a lot of potential, Victoria has aimed to expand her horizons by developing her skills in the performing arts. She not only auditioned for a play at a professional theatre, she secured multiple roles. Additionally she joined her high school dance team. Of her many successes, Victoria remarked, “I learned that when you have a certain talent you should use it to the best of your abilities.” She has definitely done so.
One thing that may not have come so easily to Victoria, however, was her ability to fit in at a Kansas City, MO Public School. For her Exploration, she shadowed students at a public high school to be able to experience what it is like to be a public school student for the first time in her life. Almost everything she experienced that week was new and unfamiliar, from the metal detectors to the intercom. Despite the novelty, she took everything in stride. “All in all,” Victoria stated about her participation in the Congressional Award, “I learned that you should always challenge yourself and never doubt your capabilities”.
Congressional Award Video
The Missouri Congressional Award Council dedicated a large part of 2008 to promoting the Award to youth throughout the state. Our board has seen tremendous success in reaching out to schools and partnering organizations.
In 2008, the Council also made it our goal to create a promotional video that could reach even more youth in Missouri. In this video created by Gold Medalist Chris Weddle, Missouri captures the spirit of the Congressional Award as seen through its medalists, advisors, and board members.
To see the 30-Second Promotional Video also created by the Missouri Council, Click Here.
By signing up to receive email updates, you will be included on information and news about the Missouri Council. You will alerted of ceremony dates and details once they are set for the year. You will also be notified of approaching Record Book deadlines to be included in that year's state-wide ceremony. The National Office will also include you in our quarterly newsletter which will include program updates and various opportunities for participants and adult volunteers.
Youth, Advisors, Promoters, and parents who wish to receive updates about the should SIGN UP HERE!
Gold Intern Opportunity
Opportunities are available for past Congressional Award Gold Medalists to apply for semester internship positions at the Congressional Award National Office in Washington, DC. The intern will work with Program Managers to promote the Congressional Award to Members of Congress, youth organizations, schools, Congressional Award Advisors and state/local media. He/she will assist in program operations and events throughout the semester. The intern must be an innovative thinker and team player. An effective candidate will have excellent writing and interpersonal skills. Please submit a letter of interest with resume and writing sample to the National Office, attention: Kathleen Deschler.
Share Your Pictures and Experiences with Us!!!
If you have pictures of a ceremony or stories regarding the Congressional Award, please send them to us via email at information@congressionalaward.org.
The Missouri Congressional Awards Council was established in June of 1994 by then US Senator John Danforth. Over the years the all-volunteer council has served the youth of Missouri by not only fostering participation in the Congressional Award program,but also by conducting an annual state-wide ceremony for bronze and silver medal recipients.
Demonstrating that service comes in various forms, Victoria Willingham has given hundreds of hours of her time to many different organizations, hoping to make a change within them all. As an advisor on the Kansas City Youth Commission, she has discussed and created better opportunities for young people such as herself through initiatives like National Youth Service Day. She also helped give Missouri youth a voice through her work on a teen radio show. Victoria’s service does not end there. She also volunteered at a nursing home, an AIDS walk, a school supply drive and at her former dance school, serving as a veteran volunteer. Victoria takes pride in knowing that she has had “an opportunity to affect people in diverse ways”.
Sign up to receive email updates about the Congressional Award and the Missouri Congressional Award Council!!!
Opportunities are available for past Congressional Award Gold Medalists to apply for semester internship positions at the Congressional Award National Office in Washington, DC. The intern will work with Program Managers to promote the Congressional Award to Members of Congress, youth organizations, schools, Congressional Award Advisors and state/local media. He/she will assist in program operations and events throughout the semester. The intern must be an innovative thinker and team player. An effective candidate will have excellent writing and interpersonal skills. Please submit a letter of interest with resume and writing sample to the National Office, attention: 
