Congressional Award
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[edit] About the Award
The Congressional Award is the U.S. Congress' award for young Americans. It is non-partisan, voluntary, and non-competitive. The program is open to all 14- to 23-year-olds. Participants earn Bronze, Silver and Gold Congressional Award Certificates and Bronze, Silver and Gold Congressional Award Medals. Each level involves setting goals in four program areas; Volunteer Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration. Earning the Award is a fun and interesting way to get more involved in something you already enjoy or something you'd like to try for the first time. You move at your own pace - on your own or with your friends. This is not an award for past accomplishments. Instead, you are honored for achieving your own challenging goals.[1]
Regardless of your situation, you can earn The Congressional Award. The Congressional Award has no minimum grade point average requirements. It accommodates young people with special needs or disabilities who are willing to take the challenge. The Congressional Award is open to all.[2]
There are separate ceremonies for those who win the bronze and silver medals and those who win the gold medal. The requirements for winning the silver medal are twice as rigorous as those for winning the bronze, and the requirements for winning the gold are twice as rigorous as those for winning the silver.
[edit] About the Award - The International Award
The Congressional Award is similar to The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, which began in 1957 in the United Kingdom. Since then, over 60 countries have formed Award programs similar to The Duke of Ediburgh's Award. Each program, operating under a variety of titles, is somewhat unique - although they all retain the same fundamental aims and philosophy. In 1988 all the National Award Programs joined together to form a non-executive body called the International Award Association to coordinate, encourage and promote the Award scheme throughout the world. The Association in serviced by the International Secretariat which is based in London.[3]
The Award is known by different names, depending on where it is operated:
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award: Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gibraltar, Grenada, India, Jamaica, Montserrat, New Zealand, Pakistan, St Lucia, St Helena & Dependencies, St Vincent, Solomon Islands, United Kingdom
The Hong Kong Award for Young People: Hong Kong
The President's Award: The Gambia, Republic of Ireland, Kenya, Malta, Trinidad and Tobago, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe
The Congressional Award: United States of America
The Crown Prince Award: Jordan
Head of State Award: Ghana
The National Youth Award: Mauritius, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka
The National Youth Achievement Award: Singapore
The Namibia Youth Award. Le Merite International de la Jeunesse: Benin, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Comores, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea
The Nigerian National Youth Award
Premio la Jeunesse: Senegal
he Source of the Nile Award: Uganda
Ordre National du Merite de la Jeunesse: Cameroon
The Benelux Award: Belgium, The Netherlands
Ardikarsa Nugraha Cestita: Indonesia
The Gold Shield Award: South Africa
The Israel Youth Award.
The Premier's Award: Malaysia
The Prince Makhosini Award: Swaziland
