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Let's Rewind and look at your impact!

The Congressional Award is excited to share a snapshot of all the amazing events, program updates, and impact that our youth participants have made this year. From volunteering in their local communities to taking on challenging physical fitness activities, bettering themselves and improving upon skills, and stepping out of their comfort zones, our participants have truly demonstrated their dedication to personal and civic growth. We’re so proud of all that they’ve accomplished and can’t wait to see what they’ll achieve in the future.

Check out our 2022 highlights and be sure to follow us on social media + join our mailing list for even more updates!

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Gold Medals Earned: 483

Silver Medals Earned: 320

Bronze Medals Earned: 477

Certificates Earned: 265

Number of Active Participants: 41,195

State with the most Medalists: California

Your Impact is Making Headlines

Ridge Point Student Earns Congressional Award for Community Service

The Fort Bend Star
February 8, 2022
Ridge Point High School senior Zion Alexander said community service has always been part of his family’s lifeblood. So when he…
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Congressional Award Gold Medals Honor Six Area Students
The San Diego Union Tribune
May 25, 2022
Imagine dedicating 10 40-hour work weeks to volunteer public service, then an additional 10 full work weeks to personal development and fitness — all while keeping up a full schedule…
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Rabeya Akter, Steven Chen are NMI’s first-ever Congressional Awardees
Saipan Tribune
August 5, 2022
Rabeya Akter and Xin “Steven” Chen are the Northern Marianas’ first-ever recipients of the Congressional Award, Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) announced yesterday…
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Miriam Talalay: Congressional Gold Medal Winner and Lifelong Animal Caretaker
UMaine News
October 31, 2022
Like many first-year students at the University of Maine, Miriam Talalay has several passions — animals, drawing and playing violin, just to name a few. What sets her apart…
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2022 State and District Ceremonies

Florida’s 18th District

Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) honored 35 youth medalists from Florida’s 18th Congressional District in a ceremony this October in Stuart, Florida. This event was sponsored by NextEra Energy.

 
Since the creation of The Congressional Award program in 1979, young people from Florida’s 18th Congressional District have been some of the most active participants. To this day, FL-18 remains one of the top three congressional districts across the United States in terms of student engagement. View the full press release here.

Arkansas

In September, The Congressional Award Foundation (CAF) celebrated the accomplishments of 38 4-H youth for community service and personal development at the Governor’s Mansion in Little Rock. The ceremony was attended by Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, Congressman French Hill, former Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater and others.

 

The event served as the official launch of the Congressional Award Global Sustainability program, created in partnership with Bayer, to empower the next generation of leaders to act on pressing sustainability issues such as food insecurity.

 

View the full press release here.

Kentucky

In August, The Congressional Award Foundation held its first in-person statewide ceremony since the beginning of the pandemic at the State Capitol in Frankfort, Kentucky. The ceremony, hosted by Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-03), recognized 62 participants who have earned Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medals over the course of the past four years.

The ceremony recognized 29 Bronze Medalists, 5 Silver Medalists, and 28 Gold Medalists for their achievements. 

View the full press release here.

Georgia

Presented by our partners at Aflac and hosted by Congresswoman Carolyn Bourdeaux (GA-07), Congressman Rick Allen (GA-12), Congressman Barry Loudermilk (GA-11), the 2022 Georgia Statewide Ceremony recognized 43 medalists from across the state for their dedication to serving their communities and bettering themselves.

North Carolina

In February, The Congressional Award Foundation held its annual North Carolina Statewide Ceremony, sponsored by Smithfield Foods. Joined by Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-08), Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC-05), Congressman David Rouzer (NC-07), and Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12), The Foundation recognized 57 medalists from across the Tar Heel State for taking on the challenge and serving their communities.

 
View the full press release here.

2022 Program Highlights

Completed Transition from Paper to Online Record Books

The program officially transitioned to the online record book submission website, Submittable. Now, participants can digitally save their progress, have digital signatures, submit online with faster approvals, and view their status online.

Implemented Monthly Informational Workshops

These workshops provided an understanding of The Congressional Award program requirements and deadlines, how to effectively advise and mentor youths, along with common award application mistakes, helpful resources, award ceremonies, events, and more!

Introduced Digital Certificates

In our continued effort to “go digital” and reduce our carbon footprint, The Congressional Award now sends out approval letters and certificates digitally, allowing participants access their approval documents quicker and easier, plus submit them for job/school applications more conveniently.

Extended COVID Accommodations to Keep Program Accessible

Participants can now submit Virtual Expeditions and Explorations with modified guidelines. This change allowed the program to reach more youth who may have faced obstacles with in-person Expedition/Exploration trips in the past.

And That’s a Wrap on 2022!

This year, our participants got wrapped up in bettering themselves, working on skills and developing new interests, improving their fitness and challenging themselves, and most importantly – giving back to their communities! Service is the gift that keeps on giving. We look forward to 2023 and watching our youth participants continue to unwrap their potential and the power of giving back and shining bright.

Want to learn more about our year?

Read the 2022 Impact Report Here

Want to share your program highlight to be featured on our social media?

Share Your Story Here

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