Offutt youth honored at Congressional Awards Program

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Peter R.O. Danielson
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
BELLEVUE, Neb. --  Fifteen local students were honored for their achievements during a Congressional Awards Ceremony May 13 at the Bellevue Public Schools Welcome Center.

Reps. Jeff Fortenberry and Lee Terry, Nebraska congressmen, and Col John Rauch, 55th Wing commander, praised the winners for their dedication, initiative, industriousness and support of their peers, schools and local community during the program

"We have some confusion about where America lies," said Fortenberry. "It's not in Washington. America resides in the hearts of good people like these young adults who have shown leadership and service of their fellow man."

The Congressional Awards Program encourages young people to set and achieve goals in four areas: volunteer public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition/exploration activities.

Though there is a goal in mind to reach each award level, Rauch said that students shouldn't get hung up on the awards themselves. Instead, they should focus on the importance of what they've done.

"The secret to these milestones is your service," Rauch said. "It shows you have committed to something greater than yourselves. Thank you all for taking this initiative, improving yourself and serving."

Award levels are broken down into gold, silver and bronze medals and gold, silver and bronze certificates based on number of hours committed to the four areas. Candidates as young as 14 years old can earn awards, and each hour is cumulative towards the next award level. Participants can continue to earn awards until they are 23 years old.

Until this year, Bellevue Public Schools and Offutt Youth Programs worked with Rep. Lee Terry as their congressional sponsor. When congressional districts changed, Terry said he was sad to see the program pass to a new representative but was optimistic that the award winners would keep working towards higher goals in the years to come.

"Along the way, you will meet people who tell you you are wasting your time," said Terry. "Do not listen to these people, because they are the people who will have to listen to you when you are their boss."

The Congressional Awards Program was signed into law by then-Pres. Jimmy Carter on Nov. 16, 1979. Young adults in the program are coached by an adult advisor and other volunteers who encourage them to follow through on goals the student personally sets. This gives a sense of accomplishment and pride when they receive the tangible fruits of their hard work on awards day.

"It's nice to know that my hard work has been noticed," said gold medal recipient Jacob Grabowski. "But I need to say that even without this award, I would have still been in my community doing all these things that you're acknowledging today."

Honored at this year's Congressional Awards Ceremony were:

Gold and Silver Medals
Jacob Grabowski

Gold Medal
Rebecca Sis

Silver Medal
Loriana Harkey
Mary Wier
Daniel Woodworth

Bronze Medal
Christopher Crockrom
Megan Feldmann
Sydney Heuler
Agnes Query
Angel Sumpter

Silver Certificate
Katie Green
Sarah Shewchuck

Bronze Certificate
Rachel Colwell
Katrina Nesbit

Youth of the Year
Phillip Wier