2017 gold medal ceremony - congressional award

WASHINGTON, DC // 6.21.17GOLD MEDAL CEREMONY2017

IMPACTCOMMUN

CONGRESSIONALAWARD.ORG (202) 226-0130 [email protected]

@THEAWARD @THECONGRESSIONALAWARD@THECONGRESSIONALAWARD

TY REPORT


THEACHIEVEMENT

The Congressional Award Gold Medal is the highest award bestowed upon a youth civilian by the United States Congress.

The Gold Medal represents the pinnacle of a program that encourages and recognizes initiative, service, and achievement in America’s youth.

Congressional Award Gold Medalists have not won an award, they’ve earned it!

Each of the honorees have challenged themselves to grow -mentally, physically, culturally, and personally. No two of their journeys have been exactly alike, yet each has earned the recognition of the United States Congress. Each has traveled along a path of self-improvement and service to others. And each has proven to be an outstanding young American.

SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ | NEW JERSEY


GOALS

NETWORK

SERVE

DEVELOP

STAY

EXPLORE

EARN

GODO&

#GOLD2017

FIT

SET

THEJOURNEY


THEIMPACT

178,384SERVICE HOURS

An average of 478 hours per Medalist

175175 Medalists partnered with a youth/service organization to complete their activities.

408,362DEVELOPMENT

An average of 1,094 hours per Medalist

164,534FITNESS HOURSAn average of 441 hours per Medalist

1,865ADULT MENTORSAdvisors and Validators assist in the goal-setting process and network building.

3,357EXPLORATIONAn average of 9 daysper Medalist

PA R T N E R S

DAYS O FH O U R S


THEMEDALISTS

373MEDALISTSThe largest Gold Medal class in the program’s 38 year history, representing an unprecedented year of servant leadership.

39STATESCalifornia, Wyoming, Florida, Texas, & New Jersey produced the most Medalists.

18AVERAGE AGEOF MEDALIST18 years, 3 months with the oldest Medalist at 24 and youngest at 16.

211FEMALE

162MALE

A group of young achievers, focused on setting goals that enrich their communities and better themselves.

For a minimum of 2 years, each has logged at least 400 hours of Voluntary Public Service, 200 hours of Personal Development and Physical Fitness, respectively, and a 5 day, 4-night Expedition/Exploration.


2017GOLD MEDALISTS

ALABAMA

Madison Haney, Killen (AL05)

ARIZONA

Piyaporn Chivatanaporn, Tuscon (AZ02)

Ayesha Ahsan, Chandler (AZ05)

Jacob Cryder, Mesa (AZ09)

Emily Hartzler, Phoenix (AZ09)

Jacob Matsumoto, Phoenix (AZ09)

CALIFORNIA

Alannah Ruiz, Vallejo (CA05)

Edward Jung, Folsom (CA07)

Nathaniel Chien, Stockton (CA09)

Katie Wong, Redwood City (CA14)

Abhiraj Chowdhury, Pleasanton (CA15)

Hannah Lee, San Jose (CA17)

Conrad Chu, Palo Alto (CA18)

Riya Dholia, San Jose (CA18)

Ethan Teo, Palo Alto (CA18)

Kai Fisher, Santa Barbara (CA24)

Megan Pollon, Arroyo Grande (CA24)

Minyoung Cho, Valencia (CA25)

Michael Ngan, Stevenson Ranch (CA25)

Reed Fundter, Pasadena (CA27)

Hee Won Jung, Cypress (CA27)

Suzie Kim, Pasadena (CA27)

Yoojin Kim, Arcadia (CA27)

Jonathan Liu, Pasadena (CA27)

William Choi, La Canada (CA28)

Naomy Kim, Montrose (CA28)

Austin Noll, Van Nuys (CA29)

Daniel Hong, San Dimas (CA32)

YuYing Dai, Palos Verdes Estates (CA33)

Steven Gi, Los Angeles (CA33)

Hyeun Lee, Beverly Hills (CA33)

Kayla Samini, Manhattan Beach (CA33)

Alexander Kang, Los Angeles (CA37)

Tiffany Kim, Los Angeles (CA37)

Lina Kim, Cerritos (CA38)

Pranit Kumaran, Cerritos (CA38)

Danielle Lee, Cerritos (CA38)

Jihyun Woo, Cerritos (CA38)

Sung Ho Woo, Cerritos (CA38)

Jung Hyo Baik, Yorba Linda (CA39)

Snghyun Byon, La Habra (CA39)

Gordon Chan, Walnut (CA39)

David Huh, Fullerton (CA39)

Jordan Jennison, Yorba Linda (CA39)

Beom Kim, Fullerton (CA39)

Katherine Kim, La Habra (CA39)

Ha Young Kong, Fullerton (CA39)

Brandon Lee, Fullerton (CA39)

Connie Lee, Fullerton (CA39)

Eric Lee, Fullerton (CA39)

Harris Liou, Rowland Heights (CA39)

Hasan Liou, Rowland Heights (CA39)

Jacob Nam, Brea (CA39)

Daniel Jewon Choi, Laguna Hills (CA45)

Dean Colarossi, Dove Canyon (CA45)

Connor Fiddler, Mission Viejo (CA45)

Emily Ha, Irvine (CA45)

Jeimin Ha, Laguna Hills (CA45)

Sonia Kim, Anaheim (CA45)

Yena Kim, Irvine (CA45)

Alice Lee, Irvine (CA45)

Tyler Nguyen, Orange (CA45)

Peter Stewart, Santa Ana (CA45)

Jennifer Yi, Anaheim (CA45)

Yan Zhang, Irvine (CA45)

Hee Won Jung, Cypress (CA47)

Jamie Ostmann, Los Alamitos (CA47)

Janice Park, Buena Park (CA47)

Katrina Chan, Laguna Niguel (CA48)

Jaeyub Chung, Laguna Niguel (CA48)

Alexander Scott, Fountain Valley (CA48)

David Bao, Ladera Ranch (CA49)

Jake Leung, Del Mar (CA49)

Lauren Rennecker, San Diego (CA49)

Naomi Kim, San Diego (CA52)

COLORADO

Edwin Bodoni, Centennial (CO06)

Spencer Christensen, Centennial (CO06)

CONNECTICUT

Rachel Goldstein, East Lyme (CT02)

Sydney Tabor, Waterford (CT02)

Ann Wechsler, Greenwich (CT04)

Christian Yon, Cheshire (CT05)

DELAWARE

Kayleigh Barnes, Bridgeville (DE00)

Micah Petersen, Newark (DE00)

FLORIDA

John Finelli, Gulf Breeze (FL01)

Jean-Paul Recht, Tallahassee (FL05)

Joshua Florkowski, Brooksville (FL11)

Ronald Florkowski, Brooksville (FL11)

Amir Kamrani, Palm Harbor (FL12)

Alexis Behne Sharma, Sarasota (FL16)

Julie Bicknell, North Palm Beach (FL18)

Stephanie Brookshire, Palm City (FL18)

Christian Cropp, Tequesta (FL18)

James Dowling, Jupiter (FL18)

Nicole Ferruggia, Palm Beach (FL18)

Reece Haire, Palm Beach Gardens (FL18)

Caitlin Hiscock, Palm Beach Gardens (FL18)

Garrett Holmes, Palm Beach Gardens (FL18)

Aalisha Jaisinghani, PBG (FL18)

Rachel Maunus, Palm City (FL18)

Jack McGinley, Jupiter (FL18)

Ben Meyerson, Stuart (FL18)

Olivia Perez, Palm Beach Gardens (FL18)

Sofia Perez, Palm Beach Gardens (FL18)

Diana Pinkham, Tequesta (FL18)

Cameron Pirozzi, Palm Beach Gardens (FL18)

Jonathan Prokos, Palm Beach Gardens (FL18)

Shelby Russo, Jupiter (FL18)

Brianna Steidle, Jupiter (FL18)

Sabrina Uvanile, North Palm Beach (FL18)

Cali Vaughn, Tequesta (FL18)

Jesse Katzeff, Naples (FL19)

Brendan Shipley, West Palm Beach (FL20)

Jillian Hanley, Boynton Beach (FL21)

Srijith Nair, Boynton Beach (FL22)

Colleen Murray, Miami Springs (FL27)

Sofia Santa-Cruz, Miami (FL27)

GEORGIA

Margaret Silliman, Atlanta (GA05)

Rachael Liu, Dacula (GA10)

Cristina Dalton, Atlanta (GA11)

IDAHO

Samuel Cuentas, Post Falls (ID01)

Rebecca Levi, Nampa (ID01)

Christiana Stone, Namap (ID01)

Jesse Cole, Bellevue (ID02)

Annabelle Day, Jerome (ID02)

Solveig Norton, Boise (ID02)

ILLINOIS

Natalia Czachorowski, Norridge (IL05)

Mary Kuprianczyk, Chicago (IL05)

Samia Abdul-Qadir, Naperville (IL06)

Adam Koszyk, Mt. Prospect (IL09)

Jason Yang, Wilmette(IL09)

Clayton Pope, Alton (IL13)

DeAnna Pope, Alton (IL13)

INDIANA

Lauren Ciulla, Carmel (IN05)

Matthew Frye, Indianapolis (IN07)

Emily Huff, Bloomington (IN09)

IOWA

Susan Alverio, Norwalk (IA03)


2017GOLD MEDALISTS

KANSAS

Vasavi Garimella, Overland Park (KS03)

Jared Gillen, Stilwell (KS03)

Arjun Mahajan, Overland Park (KS03)

Ryan Mohamadi, Leawood (KS03)

Katherine Walsworth, Leawood (KS03)

Irfan Ansari, Wichita (KS04)

KENTUCKY

Katherine Speece, Louisville (KY03)

John Garland, Somerset (KY05)

Zachariah Kiser, Grayson (KY05)

Mackenzie Rigney, Grayson (KY05)

Kayla Sears, Williamsburg (KY05)

LOUISIANA

Sean Thomas, Slidell (LA01)

MARYLAND

Hansel Motiram, Millersville (MD04)

Ryan Briscoe, Boyds (MD06)

Madeline Carwile, Rockville (MD06)

Lucy Lee, Potomac (MD06)

WeiAnne Reidy, Potomac (MD06)

Alix MacKillop, Silver Spring (MD08)

Clara da Silva, Bethesda (MD08)

Nikhil Swaminathan, Rockville (MD08)

MASSACHUSETTS

Mikayla Steele, Westfield (MA01)

Alexandra Duplin, Melrose (MA05)

Ishan Shukla, Milton (MA08)

Harrison Theodore, Quincy (MA08)

Maria Theodore, Quincy (MA08)

MICHIGAN

Emily Deese, Breckenridge (MI04)

Jeremy Tang, Rochester (MI08)

Emma Hicks, Romeo (MI10)

Sara Trojanowski, Farmington (MI11)

Emily Prokop, Birmingham (MI11)

Thomas Libcke, West Bloomfield (MI14)

MINNESOTA

Emily Baer, Savage (MN02)

Matthew Baer, Savage (MN02)

Braden OConnor, Roseville (MN04)

Payton Puerzer, Edina (MN05)

MISSISSIPPILane Mitchell, New Albany (MS01)Abby Pitts, Booneville (MS01)Mamie Albritton, Lumberton (MS04)

MISSOURIOlivia Hoijarvi, Crestwood (MO02)Allison Licavoli, Chesterfield (MO02)Natalie Dameron, Kansas City (MO06)

NEBRASKA

Luis Sanchez-Romo, Bellevue (NE01)

John Paul Terneus, Bellevue (NE01)

Terese Navarra, Papillion (NE02)

Ethan Nelson, Dalton (NE03)

NEVADA

David Tegtmeyer, Las Vegas (NV01)

Sara Tegtmeyer, Las Vegas (NV01)

Neha Zafar, Sparks (NV02)

Taimur Khalid, Las Vegas (NV03)

NEW JERSEY

Satchel Bell, Palmyra (NJ01)

Funda Akilli, Millville (NJ02)

David Crain III, Millville (NJ02)

Michael Doliszny, Ocean City (NJ02)

Madison Gandy, Millville (NJ02)

Marta Majewski, Millville (NJ02)

Amanda Olivio, Millville (NJ02)

Urvi Patel, Cape May Court House (NJ02)

Anthony Uzzolina, Millville (NJ02)

Andrew Laberee, Medford (NJ03)

Dominic Esposito, New Egypt (NJ04)

Christopher Lauria, Oakhurst (NJ04)

Mitchell Lauria, Rumson (NJ04)

Maya Ravichandran, Holmdel (NJ04)

Allison Wetherell, Jackson (NJ04)

Erica Wu, Holmdel (NJ04)

Rahul Yerrabelli, Freehold (NJ04)

Nicholas Coleburn, Franklin Lakes (NJ05)

Ryan Robert Murphy, Mahwah (NJ05)

Vaed Prasad, Ridgewood (NJ05)

Felicia Aschettino, W Long Branch (NJ06)

Madilyn Somers, Monmouth Beach (NJ06)

Lindsay Fogel, Warren (NJ07)

Maura Herbertson, Short Hills (NJ07)

Thiago Santos, Sparta (NJ11)

Elena Boal, West Windsor (NJ12)

Priya Vulchi, Princeton (NJ12)

NEW YORK

Heejin Han, Port Washington (NY03)

Christopher Kim, Woodbury (NY03)

Naome Sajnani, Port Washington (NY03)

Genevieve Bruen, Staten Island (NY11)

Edward McCabe, Staten Island (NY11)

Santo Tiralosi, Staten Island (NY11)

Mahika Hari, New York (NY12)

Fiona Dubrosa, Chappaqua (NY17)

William Gregson, Chappaqua (NY17)

Allison Herskovitz, Briarcliff Manor (NY17)

Zachary Kunow, Montebello (NY17)

Kathleen Schofield, New City (NY17)

Lucas Zhao, Chappaqua (NY17)

Charles Siragusa, Webster (NY25)

Gabriel Curcione, Wilson (NY27)

NORTH CAROLINA

Holly Hutcheson, Durham (NC01)

Jacob Rowe, New Bern (NC03)

Emma Morris, Rougemont (NC04)

Thomas Douglas, Winston-Salem (NC05)

Capri D’Souza, Oak Ridge (NC06)

Caroline Fitzgerald, Greensboro (NC06)

Lauraleigh Guthrie, Greensboro (NC06)

Jack Maginnes, Greensboro (NC06)

Delaney Dunlap, Indian Trail (NC08)

Jenna Viveiros, Mooresville (NC09)

Bennett David, Asheville (NC10)

Ashley Jamison, Belmont (NC10)

Kathryn Ellis, Mooresville (NC13)

Jordan Feldman, Mooresville (NC13)

Lawton Gresham, Greensboro (NC13)

OHIO

Natalie Carter, Springboro (OH01)

Ellen Haney, Maineville (OH01)

Pakrush Katragadda, Springboro (OH01)

Katherine Skelly, Morrow (OH01)

Max Lee, Canfield (OH06)

Hannah Addington, Miamisburg (OH10)

Arihant Chordia, Dayton (OH10)

Vidur Prasad, Beavercreek (OH10)

Sanjana Yerubandi, Dayton (OH10)

Laurel Grae, Chardon (OH14)

Jaidev Sharma, Solon (OH14)

Alan Ai, Massillon (OH16)

Dusstyn Reynolds, Wooster (OH16)

OKLAHOMA

Luisamaria Rubio, Oklahoma City (OK05)

OREGON

Kendall Fleshman, Portland (OR01)

Megan Baumhardt, Damascus (OR03)

PENNSYLVANIA

Nisha Arya, Bala Cynwyd (PA02)

Joshita Varshney, Exton (PA06)

Elizabeth Belka, Glenside (PA13)


2017GOLD MEDALISTS

PENNSYLVANIA (CONT’D)

Victoria Belka, Glenside (PA13)

Noah Berkowitz, Huntingdon Valley (PA13)

Seth Berkowitz, Huntingdon Valley (PA13)

Lindsay Fullerton, Elkins Park (PA13)

Samantha Gable, Rydal (PA13)

Jasna Janikic, Jenkintown (PA13)

Erin Markham, Glenside (PA13)

Emily Matthews, Philadelphia (PA13)

Swathi Prakash, Abington (PA13)

Anthony Radcliffe, Glenside (PA13)

Kristen Sparhawk, Rydal (PA13)

Stephanie Waldstein, Rydal (PA13)

Indra Alagar, Pittsburgh (PA14)

Jaya Alagar, Pittsburgh (PA14)

Krishnan Alagar, Pittsburgh (PA14)

Rajan Alagar, Pittsburgh (PA14)

Sarah Laible, Lehighton (PA17)

Teja Polisetty, Pittsburgh (PA18)

RHODE ISLAND

Aidan Sowa, North Kingstown (RI02)

Ryan Sowa, North Kingstown (RI02)

SOUTH CAROLINA

Maggie Bowyer, Rock Hill (SC05)

Mary Grace Shannon, Lake Wylie (SC05)

Jeremy Ward, Chester (SC05)

TENNESSEE

Evan Ladd, Bristol (TN01)

Carmen Ross, Chattanooga (TN03)

Grant Gammon, Cookeville (TN06)

TEXAS

Chelsea Parrott, Beckville (TX01)

Briana Gonzalez, Spring (TX02)

Ruveyda Karaca, Richardson (TX03)

Almaas Khan, Lucas (TX03)

Gopal Raman, Plano (TX03)

Monica Attaway, Palestine (TX05)

Edward Cen, Houston (TX07)

Adam Hoffman, Houston (TX07)

BJ Kim, College Station (TX17)

Animate Mazurek, San Marcos (TX21)

Miki Somosot, San Antonio (TX21)

Srikar Anantha, Pearland (TX22)

Tejna Dasari, Manvel (TX22)

Ashish Dave, Pearland (TX22)

Shrey Derasari, Pearland (TX22)

Siri Jois, Pearland (TX22)

Emily Jue, Friendswood (TX22)

Eric Li, Manvel (TX22)

Rahul Popat, Pearland (TX22)

Charles Wang, Pearland (TX22)

Lauren Yang, Sugar Land (TX22)

Darrel Dennis, Hurst (TX24)

James Hefner, Austin (TX25)

Jarrod Clark, Roanoke (TX26)

Shan Su, Dallas (TX30)

Joseph Nemec, Taylor (TX31)

UTAH

Hannah Brau, Provo (UT03)

Mariah Pay, Saratoga Springs (UT03)

Payam Rasheed, Sandy (UT03)

Sofia Tiratto, Draper (UT03)

Madison Arriaza, Sandy (UT04)

Saja Hassoun, West Jordan (UT04)

McKenna O’Connor, Eagle Mountain

(UT04)

VIRGINIA

Caroline Yi, Culpeper (VA07)

Jordan Hibbs, Alexandria (VA08)

Kimberly Laker, Arlington (VA08)

Lisa Huang, Herndon (VA10)

Pavan Krishnan, Reston (VA11)

WASHINGTON

Andrew Chin, Mill Creek (WA01)

David Singleton, Monroe (WA01)

Benjamin Stewart, Redmond (WA01)

John McManis, Mukilteo (WA02)

Rachel Demaree, Seattle (WA07)

Isabella Maehl, Seattle (WA07)

Katherine Chen, Bellevue (WA09)

Nathan Chen, Bellevue (WA09)

Nicholas Grosinger, Bellevue (WA09)

Alexandra Marsh, Bellevue (WA09)

Jessica Waller, Mercer Island (WA09)

William Waller, Mercer Island (WA09)

WEST VIRGINIA

Alonzo Webb, Ridgeley (WV01)

WYOMING

Bailey Anderson, Casper (WY00)

Grace Anderson, Devils Tower (WY00)

Lexi Bedard, Rock Springs (WY00)

Maxwell Bockmann, Cheyenne (WY00)

Sara Brennecke, Cheyenne (WY00)

Molly Burns, Cheyenne (WY00)

Tanner Laurence Christensen, Casper (WY00)

Kaitlyn Erramouspe, Rock Springs (WY00)

Elexis Forgey, Casper (WY00)

Benjamin Gallagher, Casper (WY00)

Daniel Garcia, Cheyenne (WY00)

Liam Guille, Cheyenne (WY00)

Charlotte Hecht, Cheyenne (WY00)

Jarom Herring, Encampment (WY00)

Lily Joslin, Cheyenne (WY00)

Carli Knight, Jackson (WY00)

Konnar Knotwell, Encampment (WY00)

Cassidy Little, Encampment (WY00)

Thomas Lubnau III, Gillette (WY00)

Gregory Marchal, Green River (WY00)

Patrick Marchal, Green River (WY00)

Conner Martin, Cheyenne (WY00)

Luke McIlvain, Cheyenne (WY00)

Nicholas Nelson, Rock Springs (WY00)

Megan Pachniak, Cheyenne (WY00)

Giovanni Pizzato, Rock Springs (WY00)

McKenzie Powell, Saratoga (WY00)

Devrrae Russell, Cheyenne (WY00)

Karen Russell, Encampment (WY00)

Meagan Skolnick, Cheyenne (WY00)

Jaycie Wells, Dubois (WY00)

Ben Wetzel, Powell (WY00)

*RECORD-SETTING YEAR

The 2017 Gold Medal class consists of

373 youth across 39 states. This is the

largest class in our 38 year history,

representing an unprecedented year of

servant leadership.

Learn more at congressionalaward.org.

2017 gold medal ceremony - congressional award

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