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Gold 2009
The 2008 Gold Events were a huge success and we look forward to planning this year’s ceremony along with the Award’s 30th Anniversary. The National Office will host a week-long program in DC for 2009 Gold Medalists who attend the Ceremony.
We will notify all Gold Medalists of the 2009 events once everything is confirmed. The following deadlines have been set for the 2009 Gold Medal Ceremony. WE ARE STILL CONFIRMING THE DATES OF THE GOLD MEDAL CEREMONY!!! Do not arrange travel to DC until you have been notified of these dates and your approval.
February 1st: If you would like to be considered for the 2009 Gold Medal Ceremony, ALL Gold Medal Record Books must be postmarked or faxed to the National Office.
March 15th: Any requested revisions must be postmarked or faxed to the National Office.
April 17th: Week-Long RSVP form and payment must be postmarked to the National Office. Thanks to Donors and Sponsors, the National Office may provide need-based scholarships for youth that could not otherwise afford to attend the program. Scholarship requests must be submitted by April 1st. The scholarships for the 2008 week-long program were graciously provided by FMC Corporation.
May 1st: ALL RSVP forms must be postmarked, faxed or emailed to the National Office. Biographies must be emailed to Gold@congressionalaward.org.
New Staff!!!
The Congressional Award has a few new staff members we would like to introduce!!!
Lindsay Lofton joins the National Staff as the West Regional Program Manager. Lindsay is a recent graduate from Butler University in Indiana. If you would like to contact Lindsay, please email her at lofton@congressionalaward.org.
Danielle Tucker joined our staff in May 2008 and has taken on the position of North Regional Program Manager. Danielle is a graduate from Georgetown University, and started with the Congressional Award as our Program Coordinator. If you would like to contact Danielle, please email her at tucker@congressionalaward.org.
We would also like to welcome two interns for the 2009 Spring Semester!!! Kurt Cooperrider joins us from Wittenberg University in Ohio. Mark Stevens joins us from East Tennessee State University. Welcome to the Congressional Award!!!
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Message from the National Office |
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 Each Congressional Award Gold Medalist makes an honest and noteworthy contribution to their community. From these great acts of service, young people have been able to make positive changes in their homes, cities, states and nation.
With the New Year now upon us, we are particularly excited about what is soon to come: the 2009 Gold Medal Ceremony. Our office is already preparing for this year’s outstanding group of Gold Medalists. Although the deadline for Gold Medal Record Book submissions is quickly approaching, I know that many of you are detailing your numerous hours of service to submit for the highest honor awarded to a youth by the United States Congress. I look forward to reading more accounts of altruistic giving, sheer determination for self-improvement and the boundless courage that comes from traveling alone to a foreign country or camping with few resources for many days. I can speak for our entire office when I say that I have nothing but great expectations and even greater respect for our youth who go above and beyond everyday to contribute to a better world. We wish all of our participants the best of luck as they embark upon this new year of hope, wonder and aspirations!
For America's Youth,
Joshua A. Stockstill
Program Director |
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Recent Ceremonies |
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Representative Robert Klein (FL22) pictured with National Board Member Lynn Lyons and Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medalists at their annual ceremony. |
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Representative Thaddeus McCotter (MI11) presented the Silver Medal to Veronica Kirin. |
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Participant Spotlight |
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 Jeremy Duruji of Owatonna, Minn., will soon be presented with his Congressional Award Bronze Medal by Congressman Tim Walz (MN01). For his Voluntary Public Service, Jeremy provided over 200 hours of service to his community by volunteering at a senior center and tutoring elementary school students. At the senior center he played music and read aloud to the residents. He has also devoted some of his time to working at his local library. For Personal Development, Jeremy worked part-time delivering newspapers, hoping to earn enough money to buy a bicycle. In addition to working, Jeremy also trained for a five mile race. To further increase his physical fitness, he increased his weight lifting and continuous running time so that he could earn a starting position on his football team. His hard work paid off once he earned the position, realizing that his “skill level has increased tremendously” due to his “setting goals and obtaining the goals.” Jeremy’s Expedition brought him along the north shore of Lake Superior where he learned how to scuba dive. For his trip he composed an itinerary of events and prepared all of the necessary supplies. Jeremy’s participation in the Congressional Award program has taught him that “anything is possible with hard work.” |
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Advisor Spotlight |
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 “My favorite part of the program is that the awards are not won, they are earned!” Julie Sorenson, a high school teacher at Bellevue West High School in Bellevue, Neb., found herself inspired five years ago at a Congressional Award ceremony. Since then, Julie has served as an advisor to over 35 students as the head of Bellevue West High School’s Congressional Award Club. Julie finds that actually earning the Award is the most rewarding part for the students. “They set goals and feel success when they achieve them,” said Julie. “This is a skill students need in order to be successful in life and this program teaches them that process.”
The mother of a Congressional Award Silver Medalist, Julie finds that the program keeps her young. Often going right along with students on their Expeditions, Julie has found both herself and her students outside their comfort zone, working together to achieve their goals. |
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Congressional Spotlight |
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 As a prominent student leader in the Civil Rights Movement, Rep. John Lewis (GA05) knows that young, committed and determined activists can transform an entire nation. “It is good in and of itself for young people to get involved in our democracy. They can make a lasting contribution to help build a better nation and a better world. The Congressional Award can be the spark that generates a lifetime of commitment to public service.” Rep. Lewis first became involved in political activism as a college student activist in the Nashville sit-in movement. The goal was to desegregate public accommodations in restaurants, hotels, buses and trains throughout the South. At 23-years-old and the chair of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee, he was the youngest speaker at the historic March on Washington. As a front-line participant in the Civil Rights Movement, he was arrested and jailed over 40 times in a successful, non-violent effort to end legalized segregation and racial discrimination. Afterwards, he served on the Atlanta City Council and was elected to Congress in 1986. During his tenure he has often been called “the conscience of the Congress” and has been given numerous honors for his stalwart commitment to the principles of peace and human rights. "We must do everything we can to encourage our youth to offer their gifts and talents to our society. That is what breathes life into our democracy."
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Gold Intern Opportunity |
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 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. |
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Share Your Pictures and Experiences with Us!!! |
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If you have pictures of a ceremony or stories regarding the Congressional Award, please send them to us via email at information@congressionalaward.org. |
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