The Congressional Award

The Congress of the United States, through The Congressional Award program, recognizes excellence in initiative, achievement, and service among young persons (age 14-23). You are challenged to set yourself goals (and carry through!) in:

Voluntary public service,
Personal development, and
Physical fitness. Then undertake an
Expedition or Exploration.

The Congressional Award comes in Bronze, Silver and Gold, and it's a *fine* looking medal! (It now also comes as certificates, but more about that later ...)

Here Kirsten (2nd District, Idaho) is receiving her Congressional Award in Bronze from (l. to r.) U.S. Congressman (now U.S. Senator) Mike Crapo and U.S. Senators Larry Craig and (now Governor of Idaho) Dirk Kempthorne. When we had this picture developed, the guys and gals down at the photo shop said "Wow! She's with some awesome company!"
When you earn your award, you'll have it presented to you by a United States Senator or Member of the United States House of Representatives, too!
At the 1997 Gold Award Ceremony (held in the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC) Kirsten and the other Award winners got to meet some pretty famous people, like senators and members of the Congress.
And guess who else was on hand for the Award winners to meet - Jimmy Smits! Pretty neat! He and Kirsten spoke in Spanish, and Jimmy said that Kirsten spoke better Spanish than he did! Well, maybe, 'cause Kirsten speaks it fluently; but she says that Jimmy's Spanish is just fine!
So .... Get busy and earn a Congressional Award! (See below...)

If you're surfing from another country, check out these similar and great programmes!

Australia The Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
Australia's Northern Territories , Queensland, and Western Australia divisions.
Canada The Duke of Edinburgh's Award - Young Canadians' Challenge.
Canada's programme in B.C. and the Yukon and their Gold Award Society.
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland The Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
Ireland, The President's Award: Gaisce - Gradam An Uachtaráin.
Kenya Binit Shah will help you with information about the "President's Award" via email.
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award in New Zealand
South Africa Ed Cutten will help you with information about the "President's Award" via email.

So ... for Americans:
Read over this general information about the Award.
Look at some neat ideas for all four Activity Areas.
Download the registration form and waiver, to send in and get you started.
OK, now you'll need the forms to record your activities.
If you aren't able to use the Adobe option, click here to get the forms as .jpg files.
FAQs and more - coming soon.
Maybe you want to ask for advice from these Congressional Award winners. Click on the name to send 'em a message:

Blair, an Eagle Scout, who earned the Bronze and Silver and Gold Congressional Awards!!! Watch for him as an astronaut someday!
Curt, who first wrote this home page, is now a radio journalist. You may hear him occasionally on NPR. Curt was in Serbia, and has some *great* photographs of the pro-democracy demonstrations.

Melissa is from a big city (New York - the Big Apple!) and has earned the Bronze and is now going for the Gold. Wondering about the award in metropolitan areas? Melissa can help.
Kirsten earned the Congressional Awards in Bronze and in Gold, is a Gold Award Girl Scout, and a member of the 1996 Mexican National Championship Collegiate Track Team. Here she is now, operating.

Craig & Marge Nickisch (Idaho Region VI) operate this site, and will be happy to offer advice to parents, guardians, advisors or validators. And, we certainly welcome your comments, suggestions or updates.

We're pleased that this site has received:

The "Family-Approved" Designation
from the Dove Foundation,
May 15, 1996.

The "Blue Ribbon" Award
from the Family Internet Directory Online,
June 13, 1996.