Congressional Award Newsletter: February

Local Ceremonies and Recent Events

Congressman John Tierney (MA06) presented Rebecca Murray with her Congressional Award Silver Medal in his Peabody office.

Congressman Elton Gallegly (CA24) presented Tyler Ballard with his Congressional Award Bronze Medal in the Congressman’s Simi Valley office.

Congressman Tom Rooney (FL16) made the Bronze, Silver and Gold Medal presentations to the Fall 2010 Congressional Award Medalists from South Florida.

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Congressional Award Foundation Newsletter December 2010 - February 2011

Registration Fee Increase

Beginning January 1, 2011, the Registration Fee for the Congressional Award has increased to $15. Additional information regarding the increase can be found here. Registrations postmarked AFTER January 1, 2011 should include the $15 Registration Fee.

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Gold 2010

2011 Gold Medal Ceremony
Deadlines and Dates to Remember

February 1, 2011 - To qualify for the 2011 Gold Medal Ceremony, ALL Gold Medal Record Books must be postmarked, faxed or emailed by this date. If you would like to be presented at the 2011 Gold Medal Ceremony, you must meet this deadline; late submissions will be reviewed for the 2012 Ceremony. We do not recommend sending materials via UPS, FedEx, or Registered Mail as these options add steps to the mail process, which often leads to misplaced or lost packages within the Post Office. If you are concerned about your submission, you may contact the National Office. Please allow at least one week after sending the submission for travel and processing time.

March 15, 2011 - ALL requested revisions on Gold Medal Record Books received on or before 2/1/2011 must be submitted by this date (postmark, fax or email). If we do not receive your revisions, you will be moved to the 2012 Ceremony group.

April 1, 2011 - All Gold Medal Record Books must be approved for the Gold 2011 Ceremony.

April 10, 2011 - Gold Week-Long RSVP's and Payment must be received in the National Office. If you would like to take part in the Gold Week-Long Program, we recommend getting approved early in order to meet this deadline!

May 1, 2011 - ALL Ceremony RSVP Forms and biographies must be submitted. Even if a medalist is not planning on attending the 2011 Ceremony, a biography and RSVP Form should be submitted. If a Medalist is requesting additional seats to the Ceremony, this request must be sent in writing to Gold@congressionalaward.org by this date.

May 19, 2011 - Extra seats at any of the events will be approved.

June 2011 - Gold Medal Ceremony - The Gold Medal Ceremony is usually held in late June. We are re-confirming the dates for the Gold Events with the incoming Speaker's Office. All Approved Gold Medalists for the 2011 Ceremony should receive their RSVP Packets in mid-February.

Please check the Gold Webpage for Information. This will be updated as dates and events are confirmed.

Message from the Board of Directors

George Gould Congressional Award Foundation Board Member George Gould
Congressional Award Board of Directors

"We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” That important statement was made by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on September 20, 1940. This is one premise for the Congressional Award program.

The program’s goal is to lead and encourage young people to serve their communities and our country while making them better citizens. They are recognized for their work by Members of Congress who present them with well-deserved medals for their community investment.

As a former chief of staff to a Congressman and a staff director of several House subcommittees I had the opportunity to mentor and supervise interns in association with Presidents Lyndon Johnson and John Kennedy’s congressional intern programs. I chose to give those interns challenging opportunities to actually work and support congressional responsibilities and goals. My own experience taught me that it never becomes real until you have experienced it. And that reality is borne true with the Congressional Award program.

Young people have the opportunity to learn and serve their communities; and Members of Congress have the opportunity to encourage and reward these young leaders in their efforts to enhance their communities and states throughout the Country. Since I’ve served on the Board of the Congressional Award Foundation more than 20,000 young people have been recognized for their services to their country through the Congressional Award program. During my tenure on the Board many excellent people have served the award program both on the Board and on the staff. And I would be remiss if I did not recognize the superb contribution that our National Director Erica Heyse has made to improve the scope and quality of the awards program. It is my hope that as we move into a New Year more Members of Congress take advantage of this opportunity to promote and support young people in their districts and states to participate and be awarded by our program.

Participant Spotlight

Alydaar Rangwala
Silver Medalist
Loudonville, New York

For Alydaar Rangwala, the Congressional Award is more than just a program, but a means to change the way you pursue goals and interests. Now a senior at The Albany Academies, Alydaar has felt inspired by his Voluntary Public Service and Personal Development goals to pursue a career as an orthopedic surgeon. Through his work at the Albany Medical College, Alydaar has logged over 600 hours investigating the effects of UVA1 light on certain immune system cells (Pictured right with his research mentor and Personal Development Validator, Dr. Frank Rice). With the project now in its final stages, Alydaar hopes to see his research advance UVA1 phototherapy as a possible treatment option for autoimmune disease. Alydaar’s dedication to medicine continues to the patients’ bedside. As a volunteer for the Ronald McDonald House, Alydaar experienced first-hand the work that goes into providing the best care for families. “The personal interaction reminds you what your efforts go towards in a way that raising money or helping at an event can never do,” said Alydaar. Alydaar credits the Congressional Award program with providing him the impetus to pursue a variety of goals and expand his knowledge and understanding.

Congressional Spotlight

Senator Pat Roberts
Kansas

Since his election to the United States Senate, Senator Pat Roberts has been a strong supporter of the Congressional Award program throughout Kansas. First as a US Marine then a Member of the United States House of Representative and now a United States Senator, Senator Roberts is no stranger to the challenges and benefits of serving the public. In this spirit, Senator Roberts hosts an Annual Kansas State Congressional Award Ceremony in the State Capitol Building in Topeka that recognizes young people through out the state who have accepted the challenge of the Congressional Award and served their communities.

“The Congressional Award which challenges our next generation of society through charity, public service and personal development is an honorable program recognizing the future of our great nation,” Senator Roberts said. “Since 1997 when I became closely involved with the Congressional Award, more than 80 Kansas youth have been awarded and recognized for contributing over 36,000 hours of volunteer service throughout their Kansas communities."

	2010 Pennsylvania Ceremony
	Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (PA13) awarded over 70 young people with their Congressional Award Bronze and Silver Medals on Monday, October 25, 2010. A true celebration of public service, the ceremony was held in the historic, community-funded Hiway Theatre. Mr. William Brawner, founder and Executive Director of the Haven Youth Center, shared his personal struggle with HIV and how it inspired him to lead a life of public service. Ms. Mary Rodgers, Congressional Award Board Secretary and Congressional Award advisor, served as the emcee. We would like to extend a special thank you to the Migrant Education Program, Abington High School and all the parents and advisors for their continued support.

Advisor Perspective

Christina Daigle, Congressional Award Advisor Martin County Red Cross, Florida

Christina Daigle
Martin County Red Cross Youth Coordinator, Florida

Interjecting the Congressional Award into our Youth Program allows for youth to really grow; expanding their views, boosting their self esteem and providing real life examples of what a high school age youth can accomplish. Our youth have become so involved and enthusiastic about the Congressional Award program that they are telling their peers about it before I have the chance. They are serving at local soup kitchens, presenting first aid skills and disaster preparedness to the public, teaching leadership and communication skills to younger youth and all while bettering themselves in the process. Our youth who have participated in the program are receiving a tremendous amount of college scholarships. They are being accepted to major universities because they not only have the academic drive and exceptional grades, they have the ability to set and accomplish long term goals. Overall, this makes each youth a very well-rounded individual for their age. We are truly molding our future leaders and with programs like the Congressional Award.

Christina Daigle is the Martin County Red Cross Youth Coordinator in Stuart, Florida and serves as a Congressional Award Advisor who helps over a dozen youth yearly earn Congressional Award Medals.

	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.