A series to share #smiles across our community through the achievements of our local youth, brought to you by Olsen Orthodontics.
(Cheyenne, WY) – 50 Wyoming youths from across the state will be presented Congressional Medals during the Wyoming State Medal Ceremony at the Cheyenne Civic Center on April 19, by members of Wyoming’s congressional delegation. (The public is encouraged to attend and join in the celebration, which begins at 10 AM.)
The annual ceremony recognizes Wyoming’s Congressional Award Program participants “who have earned a gold, silver, or bronze medal: the highest honor awarded to young Americans by the U.S. Congress.” During the medal ceremony, members of Wyoming’s congressional delegation will present medals to participants and recognize their accomplishments.
Among those recipients, and Fremont County’s lone representative, is Mia Chandler from Dubois, who received Bronze and Silver medals.
“I learned how important it was to set a goal that was reasonable because I was suddenly reaching for these goals much sooner,” Chandler said in her bio as to what she has gained by participating in The Congressional Award.
“Everything that was required of me to participate in the program has added to my overall understanding of the world. While volunteering at the retirement home, I learned how beneficial it is to take the time and listen to those of an older generation. In volleyball, I pushed myself even harder to meet my physical fitness goal and earned a spot on the Varsity team. I also successfully planned and executed a three-night trip that included budgeting food, travel time, and the discipline of getting up early to grab the first-come-first-serve camping sites. I am grateful to The Congressional Award for giving me all these opportunities that I might not have had otherwise.”
The release states that the program is open to any young person between the ages of 13 1/2 and 23 (regardless of GPA, background, or ability), and participants earn their medals by “demonstrating time spent on their goals related to voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness, and exploration/expedition.”
“We are so proud of these young Wyomingites,” Sarah Compton, Executive Director of the Wyoming Congressional Award Council (WCAC), said in the release. “Not only are the medalists serving their communities, pushing themselves to grow, and committing to their goals now, they are creating positive habits for their lifetime.”
“Our Wyoming participants are truly making a difference in their communities,” said Sally Morse, WCAC Program Manager. “From developing new skills to improving their health, the personal growth we see from these young people is incredible.”
The release goes on to share that despite the Congressional Award program being national, Wyoming is “the only state with a dedicated Congressional Award Council to provide mentorship, encouragement, and recognition to recipients across the state,” and that this year’s class is the largest since 2019.
“Not only is the individual medalist count on the rise, but the total hardware count is equally impressive: 16 Gold, 26 Silver, and 29 Bronze medals, plus 9 STEM Stars.”
You can view the full list of recipients here.