About

The Congressional Award is the highest honor Congress bestows upon young Americans. Established in 1979, the non-partisan, voluntary, and non-competitive program offers young people ages 14 to 23 the opportunity to develop and achieve goals in four program areas:  Volunteer Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration. Participants have the opportunity to earn Bronze, Silver and Gold Congressional Award Certificates and Congressional Award Medals. Striving to earn the Congressional Award allows participants to work at their own pace to complete goals, and affords young people the opportunity to become active in their communities while growing as people by achieving these goals.

I encourage you to explore information and the links below to learn more about this award, as well as information on how to register.

Enrollment and Requirements

There is open enrollment for this program, and there is no specific start and finish times. The timeframe of this program is completed at a pace that best suits participants.

All young people between the ages of 14-23 are able to participate in this program. The Congressional Award has no minimum grade point average requirements and accommodates young people with special needs who are willing to take the challenge.

Find more information here.

Awards

Participants have the opportunity to earn various levels of rewards. Individuals can earn a bronze, silver or gold ranking of a Congressional Certificate or a Medal. Earning a bronze or silver medal is an outstanding achievement and is presented by the individual’s member of Congress. Earning a gold medal affords the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. along with other recipients to receive the medal during a special ceremony.

Receiving certificates and medals provides the opportunity to explore many prestigious scholarships. You can find more information here.

Helpful Links

Congressional Award Website

Registration Form

Frequently Asked Questions