Zach Wong, a senior at Concord Prep High School in Santa Monica, California, earned his Congressional Award Gold Medal after completing more than 4,500 hours of activities in the program’s four areas: Voluntary Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness and Expedition/Exploration.

When I first learned about the Congressional Award program, it was in middle school from my homeroom teacher. She told me about the program and recommended that I participate. I am very proud to be a part of this very challenging experience. The program helped me to learn life skills, work ethics, how to keep physically fit and develop personal goals.

Being a performing cellist for 12 years, I was able to use my talents performing at benefit concerts, sharing my music with others, and helping with fundraising activities for non-profit organizations. Because of my involvement in the Congressional Award program, it prompted me to found a People to People International Student Chapter in our region, which helped me to accomplish my goals as an advocate for the homeless. We have been helping a homeless shelter in raising money for their daily operational expenses and physical needs like food, clothing, school supplies and toys for the past three years.

Personal goal setting has furthered my interest as a serious film maker. Two of my short films have received national and international awards, as well as recognition and official screenings at international film festivals. Last year, I was extremely proud to receive the American Visions Award from National Scholastic Arts and Writing Award at Carnegie Hall for my animation film.

I was also very grateful to have been asked to make a documentary video of the residents in a homeless shelter to bring awareness to the homeless communities. I interviewed the workers and residents and became familiar with their struggles, hardships and stories. An elderly woman who became homeless because of mounting medical bills, stayed positive and hopeful. She now helps out at the shelter and gives support to the other residents; everyone calls “Grandma.” From these experiences, I learned of familial bonds, and how people come together as a family.

I am honored to participate in the Congressional Award program. I have learned to set goals for myself, manage my time, develop myself personally and keep myself physically fit. Once we learn the importance of self-development, we can then look outwards to help others. From volunteering my services, I have become more aware that we are all global citizens and we need to care for one another. I hope to carry this learning experience throughout my life. Thank you for giving me great pride and the opportunity to learn to be self-discipline, to be a team player and to go into the community to share my talents and services with people.

~Zachary Wong
2012 Gold Medalist

Marissa Landon speaks at the 2011 Congressional Award Youth and Technology Dinner in Washington, DC. Marissa, who is currently pursuing her Congressional Award Gold Medal, centered many of her Personal Development hours around various social medias— a major mode of communication used by today’s world.

Behind the lectern, hopefully unseen to the distinguished audience out front, my knees were knocking, my palms were sweating, and my heart was racing. It was a big night, an important night, and one I had been waiting for. The Congressional Award Foundation Youth and Technology Dinner had arrived in full splendor, with delectable food, extraordinary people, and lovely music. I had to pull it together because I was the speaker and I wanted to share an important message. Even though I haven’t yet earned a Medal, I wanted to let everyone know what a difference the Congressional Award Program has made in my life.

The Congressional Award challenges youth to work in four specific program areas; Voluntary Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration. My focus that night was Personal Development. In pursuit of the Congressional Award Gold Medal I chose to become more social media savvy. I am a member of Mississippi’s Technology Team. The team travels around the state helping communities get onboard the social media bandwagon. We share the advantages of Twitter, Facebook, and other social media tools. We assist in putting together a plan and a process for incorporating social media. I love knowing I can make a difference and the Congressional Award has shown me I can be the catalyst for change in the community.

But that’s not all folks… the Congressional Award has opened other doors for me as well. I now look for new ways to give back, I have new friends and contacts, and I work harder at making healthy choices and getting exercise in my day. Oh, and that nerve-wracking speech… well, I got through it and I think the audience liked it. I know that I can face one of the greatest fears identified by many people, public speaking, and I can be a victor. Thanks! Congressional Award for helping make me the confident young lady I am today.

~Marissa Landon Gold Medal Candidate

The Congressional Award shares a national partnership with the
AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) program.
Each year, hundreds of young Corps members earn a
Congressional Award through their AmeriCorps NCCC Service.

I participated in the Congressional Award through the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps. Upon entering the program, I was told that I was now part of a legacy of volunteer work. It was made clear to me, to wear my uniform everyday to wear the “A” was an honor, one honor I should respect and be proud of. At first, I had doubts about this sentiment, but what was really going on was I could not understand what was meant by it. That was until I was sent to work with the Red Cross due to the massive flooding along the Mississippi River.

In the first meeting I attended with my team at Headquarters, the head of the Red Cross operation expressed how excited she was to have an NCCC team on site. She had worked with NCCC before and knew the attitude we would be bring to the job. An attitude of getting things done no matter how small or large, no matter how difficult, and no matter how long. Her praise resulted in a roaring round of applause from the rest of the volunteers in the room. I remember feeling silly because I felt I had not done anything yet. But that is when it hit me. By pledging ten months of my life to this program and volunteer service, I had become a part of something much bigger than I had realized. The feeling was humbling. It was some months later, while at a completely separate project in my NCCC term, that I thought again of the words spoken about us at the Red Cross. My team was working hard to fulfill a task when our sponsor had to ask us to stop working so he could finally head home for the day. Without realizing it, my teammates and I had developed the attitude the woman from the red cross had attributed to us long before we knew what it meant. Before we were aware of it, she had known about the “A” and the people who accept the challenge of putting it on everyday.

The truth is in order to make your community and your country become a better place you cannot always be concerned about what you are doing. The beauty of this program is when I was having a bad day, allowing my frustrations to create the illusion that the job my team had been assigned was meaningless, there was no doubt a team somewhere else, working overtime as hard as they could in order to improve the lives of those around them. There are jobs that need to get done and it may seem like almost anyone holds the ability to do them. Yet, what participants in the Congressional Award Program and AmeriCorps come to learn, is that it takes a special talent to have the motivation and dedication to actually buckle down and get tasks done.






~Michael Collins
2011 Bronze Medalist and AmeriCorps NCCC Corps member




Michael (right), is congratulated by his
parents after earning his Bronze Medal.

Melissa Katz: Full-time coach, part-time photographer. Melissa’s interest in photography became a downright passion after devoting more than 200 hours to the subject for her Personal Development. In addition to coaching at the NCAA Division I level, she freelances as a professional photographer and layout designer, working with websites, wallpapers, landscapes and even the occasional self-portrait.

In 8th grade, I started volunteering with the recreation department in my town by teaching kindergarteners how to play soccer on Saturday mornings. That was the first time I had ever coached anyone, and I loved it. Mind you, if the kids didn’t all flock to the ball at the same time, and one pass was completed, it was definitely considered a success. From there, I became a very frequent volunteer with the recreation department and started participating in the Congressional Award freshman year of high school. At the recreation department, I was coaching, planning events, organizing, running everyday office tasks such as making copies, flyers and mailings.

That year I also started a new sport-field hockey-which I used for the physical fitness portion of the award. During my four years participating in high school, the sport quickly progressed into a serious commitment; it became one of my life’s passions, and I decided I wanted to try to play competitively in college.

Now I am a field hockey coach at American University and I feel very fortunate to have found a career path that I am completely invested in and passionate about. I can’t help but appreciate how the skills I developed while working towards my Congressional Award have applied to the career I am working in now. I once broke down the skill of “kicking a soccer ball” to 5-year-olds; now I teach Division I athletes to develop the skills they need to succeed.

There is so much more to coaching at the top Division I collegiate level than coaching the game. I have to provide a constant, positive influence for my players. I have to mentor, inspire, motivate and mold them into the best possible athletes, students and people they can be. Participating in the Congressional Award was a positive influence and definitely helped guide me in the right direction. The process of setting goals and taking steps to achieve them provided me with exactly what I needed to be successful. Participating in the Congressional Award was a major impact on my young life. I hope to have a similar effect on my players by being able to teach them about goal-setting, believing in themselves and taking small steps to achieve feats they never imagined were possible.

~Melissa Katz
2006 Gold Medalist

Wiley Dobbs (left) with Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter (right).

In December of 1993, I was the principal at O’Leary Junior High School in Twin Falls, Idaho. A parent came to me and asked me if I would be interested in a program called “The Congressional Award.” I told her I would look at it and unenthusiastically threw it in my pile of programs to look at. The parent was Linda Norris, an aide to then-U.S. Representative Mike Crapo. As promised, I reviewed the information she gave me and fell in love on the spot with the Congressional Award Program!

What’s not to love? The Congressional Award is voluntary, individual, and non-competitive. Whether academically gifted or challenged; affluent or impoverished; physically fit or disabled; enthusiastic about school or bored — anyone ages 13½ to 23 can participate. The program is universal. Students do not win the award; they earn it. Most of all, I liked the idea that it accentuated the positive things that so many of the young people in our nation are already doing. I was delighted to become involved in a program that recognizes the good things young people do.

In 2009, after 16 years serving on the Board of Directors of Idaho’s Council, I was appointed to the national United States Congressional Award Foundation Board of Directors by U.S. Senate Minority Leader, Senator Mitch McConnell.

This is truly an outstanding program, and I have tried to give every student in our school district the opportunity to participate. I have served as an Advisor to hundreds of students through the years and have recruited other educators in our district to do the same. I am proud that the Twin Falls School District has the highest percentage of involvement in the nation and that Idaho is a leading state. The Congressional Award Program is good for our students - and good for our community. Thousands upon thousands of hours of community service have been contributed by young adults in our area as they have worked in the program.

In addition, the Congressional Award Program is a family affair. Both of our sons, Dylan and Austin, are in high school now. They have earned their Silver Medals and are close to achieving their Gold. My wife and I look forward to joining them in Washington DC one day soon to watch as they receive the highest award presented by the Congress of the United States.

~Wiley Dobbs
Advisor and member of CAF Board of Directors

Lately, whenever I read the news or watch the news on TV, inevitably the focus is on what is not working well in our country. We are inundated with stories of how leaders are failing their constituents or even stories about failed or ineffective leadership.

Although at times I am tempted to despair about the “state of the world” after hearing such stories, I invariably find myself thinking of the young people who are part of our Congressional Awards Program. Their energy, passion, idealism, creativity and resourcefulness fill me with hope for the future. Indeed, it isn’t their future work that inspires me so. It is that they are already doing good today and are making a significant difference in their part of the world.

When an 18-year-old student from Pennsylvania can raise $50,000 for cancer research for her local children’s hospital, that gives me hope. When some of our participants are already involved in more advanced leadership activities, including public speaking, facilitating meetings, attending conferences, creating visual media, mapping community resources, and training other teens, that gives me hope. When our Congressional Award youth are engaging in actions of leadership that inspires them to work for a cause greater than their own individual life, that gives me hope.

We often talk about the Arab Spring where thousands of youth demonstrated peacefully for change in their respective countries. In our country, we too are in the midst of our own American youth spring. The American youth have a passion for the possible and are not afraid of saying ‘yes’ to big challenges. They are learning how to take good care of the present moment, which means they will know how to take good care of the future.

It is said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Our youth have not only taken the first step, they have already taken a thousand steps; steps that will ensure a great future for themselves, for their communities and for our country.

When Galileo saw the stars for the first time through the telescope, he said, “I give infinite thanks to my God, who in His mercy, has made me the first observer of such marvelous things.”

I too give thanks. I give thanks for our youth. I give thanks that I can be a witness to their ever growing awareness of their giftedness and potential. I give thanks that I have been given an opportunity to help empower their dreams. I give thanks that I can be “…an observer of such marvelous things.”

I invite you to join us in this new American Spring as part of Congressional Award. Join us and see how your world will enlarge, expand and increase. Join us and realize your greatest potential come to fruition. Join us and celebrate the great things that American youth are doing. Come be a part of something great, something worthwhile, something lasting.

I look forward to meeting you in Washington DC when you receive your well-earned Gold Medal!

~Adam Ruiz
CAF Board of Directors Member