Message from the National Office
It is a privilege and honor to serve as the new Chairman of the Congressional Award Board of Directors.   I am also delighted to welcome new Board Members Cliff Akiyama, DC Council Member At-Large Kwame Brown, Ed Cohen, David Falk, Congressman Vic Fazio, Annette Lantos, Conrad Lass, Glenn Reynolds, Mary Rodgers and Adam Ruiz.   Together we are embarking on a mission to ensure that all of America’s youth, regardless of their situation, receive encouragement, opportunity guidance, and recognition.

This is an exciting time for the organization.  In 2007, the Foundation saw enrollment reach over 25,000 participants from across the country and also showcased its most successful Gold Medal Ceremony to date.  With 273 Medalists and over 40 Members of Congress in attendance, this year’s event was a milestone in making the Congressional Award a national opportunity.   

With the success of the Foundation evident, it is important to continue efforts to raise the necessary financial support to sustain our program growth and reach new goals for the future.  It is my intention to bring fundraising to an entirely new level in 2008.  Among the events planned for the New Year is the Annual Congressional Award Golf Classic set for April 28th in Arlington, Virginia.  Please lend your support this year by participating at some level – in the Classic or with a general donation – and make a difference in the lives of young people.    

On behalf of the Congressional Award Foundation, we thank you for your support and wish you all a happy and safe holiday season.

Warm Regards,

Paxton K. Baker
National Chairman of the Board

Recent Ceremonies

Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX 25) presented Jonathan Hills with his Congressional Award Silver Medal in a district ceremony.
Susan Park and Sacha Finn received their Congressional Awards in a ceremony with Congressman Henry Waxman (CA30).
	Liam Swords received his Congressional Award Medal in a recent ceremony with Congressman Tom Allen (ME01).

Participant Spotlight
Erin Mullen of Louisburg, North Carolina recently earned her Silver Medal.  One of her Voluntary Public Service goals was to collect food, phone cards, DVDs, etc to send to soldiers in Iraq.  She collected things from neighbors, friends and businesses in order to ship as much as possible to the troops.  For her Personal Development, Erin wanted to qualify for and compete in the FEI Pony Level at Regional and National competitions.  In order for her to accomplish this goal, she had to ride her horse five to six days per week and study for her written test.  She learned that early preparation and hard work can result in success.  In the Physical Fitness area, Erin wanted to run a half marathon and finish in less than 2.5 hours.  Through her dedication, she was able to finish in 2:13.00.  Erin’s Expedition took her to Brazil to help film a television show.  By participating in the Congressional Award, Erin has learned new skills and that “hard work pays off in the end.”

Advisor Spotlight
Jessie Blair from Ocean, NJ has been working with the Congressional Award since 1982. She thought the Congressional Award was ”a great opportunity for students to devote their energy to a program that helped them set goals and have the pride of achieving those goals.”  Jessie believes that the Award positively impacts students because it allows them to set goals and to reach out to make new connections. Participants are able to meet new people who can serve as mentors and allow them to gather new ideas. The Award also allows students to achieve goals they set due to their personal determination and motivation to reach those goals. Jessie has worked with over 600 students on the Award and many of those students have said how the Congressional Award aided in the participants in making career choices or seeing how far the participants can push themselves to go.

Partnership Spotlight
The partnership between Boy Scouts of America and the Congressional Award was started in 1999.  Boy Scouts of America’s mission is “to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.”  Since 1910, Boy Scouts of America has been providing an educational program to boys, young men and young women across the country.  Boy Scout troops and Venturing crews allow youth to learn skills in leadership, citizenship, teamwork, personal fitness, and character.  Opportunities for Expedition and Exploration are present at every camping trip and high adventure available to these scouts.  In 2007, 273 young Americans were recognized with the Congressional Award Gold Medal.  Forty of these young men and women were associated with the Boy Scouts through troops or crews.

Congressional Corner
This fifth generation Hoosier is the longest serving U.S. Senator in Indiana history.  Each year Senator Dick Lugar hosts the Indiana State Wide Ceremony to award participants with their Congressional Award Bronze, Silver, or Gold Medals.  In his words, “Each citizen has the potential to make important contributions at a local level, and oftentimes the excitement in serving others begins as a youth.”  Pictured to the right, Sentor Lugar presents Nathan Baldwin with a Congressional Award Gold Medal. “The Congressional Award embodies the concepts of community service and growth in leadership through the exercise of setting goals and seeking mentors.”  The Senator fully believes that each participant of the Congressional Award becomes an example to their peers and demonstrates the will to lead productive lives and provide responsible citizenship.  “It gives me great pride to see young Americans displaying dedication and selflessness through efforts to improve their communities.”

New Board Members
As noted by Chairman Paxton K. Baker, the Congressional Award Foundation is proud to announce the addition of ten new members to the Board of Directors. We are pleased to welcome Cliff Akiyama of the University of Pennsylvania; DC Council Member At-Large Kwame Brown; Edward Cohen of Lerner Enterprises; David Falk of FAME; the Honorable Vic Fazio of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld; Mrs. Annette Lantos of California; Conrad Lass of Electric Power Supply Association; Glenn Reynolds of USTelecom Association; Mary Rodgers of Abington High School and Adam Ruiz of Citizen’s Union Bank. We deeply appreciate their service to the Board.

Gold Intern Opportunity
Opportunities are available for past Congressional Award Gold Medalists to apply for 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 Gold Medal Ceremony preparations. The intern will 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.