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North Idaho students honored |
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August 23, 2016 |
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| From left,
Silas Kidd, Josh Heisey, Ellie Heisey,
Raul Labrador, Annie Cuentas, Sam
Cuentas and Joseph Broder. |
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By U.S. Congressman Raul Labrador
One of the best things about my job is meeting
young people committed to improving themselves
and their communities. Last Tuesday, we presented
Congressional Award medals to six North Idaho
students at a ceremony in my Coeur d’Alene
office.
To earn the award, students meet rigorous
requirements in four areas: voluntary public
service, personal development, physical fitness
and expedition/exploration.
Gold medal winner Sam Cuentas volunteered at a
hospital in Coeur d’Alene and completed the
famous 1 3/4 mile “Long Bridge” swim in
Sandpoint. His younger sister, Annie, is a
bronze medalist who helped disabled students get
outdoors and worked at Christian Youth Theater
North Idaho, on stage and behind the curtain.
Gold medalist Josh Heisey and his cousin, bronze
medalist Ellie Heisey, both volunteered in a
recreation program for special needs kids. Josh
learned guitar and jujitsu. Ellie taught
children at church and spent over 700 hours
learning and competing in dance.
Bronze medalist Silas Kidd worked at the
Salvation Army and played piano in nursing
homes. Bronze medalist Joseph Broder helped
fellow Boy Scouts become Eagle Scouts and took
first place at the regional Invent Idaho
competition for building a hydrogen gasifier.
Their range of interests illustrates something I
learned from my mom. She set high standards, but
left it to me to find my passion and pursue it.
As I told these six fine young people, everyone
has a calling in life, a way to contribute.
What’s most important is finding what you love
to do and doing your very best. That’s the
American Dream.
The six students are among 18 Idahoans who
received medals this year, five gold, three
silver and 10 bronze. On Monday, while I was in
North Idaho, Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch
presided over a ceremony in Boise for medalists
from southern Idaho. About 40,000 youths
participate in the program, which begins with
certificate level awards.
The Congressional Award was established in 1979
by Congress as a non-partisan, public-private
partnership. Since then, participants have
contributed more than 7 million hours of public
service. Earning a gold medal requires 400 hours
of volunteer work, 200 hours of personal
development, 200 hours of fitness and at least
four overnights on an expedition/exploration
activity.
The program is funded by the private sector.
Among the prominent Idaho contributors have been
Hecla Mining, Hewlett-Packard, Holland & Hart,
the J.R. Simplot Co., Micron and Potlatch.
Of course, the support these young people get
from parents, family and mentors is critical. I
congratulate everyone who helped them achieve
their goals.
To learn more about the award and how to get
involved, visit the Congressional Award online.
Finally, click here to read a story in the Coeur
d’Alene Press about this week’s award ceremony. |
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