WLM | people
23 years of age. Unlike many other
programs, the Congressional Award
does not focus on GPA, ACT/SAT
exam scores or sports stats – it
recognizes the setting and achieving
of personal goals. (This is where the
program especially caught my eye.)
Any kids with the will and desire
to achieve can apply – including
kids with disabilities, kids who are
home schooled, kids from different
life situations, from large cities or
small rural areas, etc. Four program
areas: voluntary community
service, personal development,
physical fitness, and expedition/
exploration can be tailor-made to
fit the applicant’s personal interests.
Awards range with the number of
hours completed, from certificates
and medals at the Bronze, Silver
and Gold levels. The number of
hours required is impressive, and
while there are minimum time
frames required to achieve each
level, one bonus of this organization
is that there is no rush to achieve.
Hours also are cumulative toward
additional levels.
my child is not the only one who
fits this profile. Not by a long shot.
There are many, many kids across
Wyoming that I’ve met through
our work in youth organizations
through the years who are every bit
as active, and deserving, as my child,
in many different ways. If your child
isn’t currently pursuing community
service, personal development
and/or personal fitness goals, what
a neat way to get them motivated
and organized to do so! This is a
program that needs to be shared,
and shared repeatedly.
If you’re entering the program in
Wyoming, you are additionally lucky
-- our square state is the only state
with a State Director and Board
I couldn’t sign up my daughter fast
enough. (Excuse my buttons while
they burst off in pride for a moment
…) This program is perfect for my
already busy child, who’s a summer
Junior Docent at the Laramie Plains
Museum, volunteers as a teacher’s
aide in ballet, takes multiple hours
of dance weekly, is in summer dance
intensives and annual ballets with
our Laramie Dance & Arts Center,
is Honored Queen of our local Job’s
Daughters bethel, and is a varsity
athlete at LHS while taking honors
classes for the first time this year.
(Sorry if my button hit you while
flying by there.) These are hours my
child is already putting in – why not
log them and help her receive a non-
competitive award that is wonderful
resume and scholarship material at
the same time? And – I know that
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