WLM | people
THE WYOMING
Congressional Award
By Kati Hime
Images by Sammy Harrington-Baysinger
I
f you’re a parent or grandparent
of a student who is constantly
on the go, volunteering in
their community, working hard at
extra-curricular activities, pushing
themselves to new levels at sports or
physical achievement – or perhaps
you’re that student reading this
while darting between activities –
you must check out the Wyoming
Congressional Award. If you’re that
student, dog ear this page, stick this
magazine in your backpack (they’re
free, ya know!), read this and then
visit wcac.us!
I myself am a parent of two such
students. I am friends with parents of
these types of students. We talk – a
lot – especially on our favorite go-to
for busy parenthood (or busy life
in general), social media. So while
you’re at it, pick up that phone really
16
quickly (or open a new tab if you’re
reading this online) and follow
Wyoming Congressional Award
on Facebook. They have events,
updates, photos and more info. Then
be sure to share it with a friend, like
my mama friends Micaela Myers and
Kirsten Holles did with me, and boy
was I glad that they did! Those thirty
seconds can change a kid’s life!
I was intrigued when I checked out
the program for my eldest, but when
I met with Wyoming Congressional
Award’s State Director Trista
Ostrom, I was hooked. This
program is flexible, non-competitive,
Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine | Fall & Holiday 2017
highly respected on resumes and
scholarship applications, can be
achieved in any part of the nation,
by kids from all walks of life, and
has solid Wyoming roots.
Established in 1979 through
passage of The Congressional
Award Act, the bill was proposed
by Wyoming Senator Malcolm
Wallop (of Big Horn) and New
Jersey Congressman James J.
Howard. The non-partisan program
recognizes “…initiative, service
and achievement in young people.”
Students can participate in the
program from the ages of 13.5 to