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Volume · MMXXV
Highest Youth Honor · U.S. Congress
§ Youth Leadership

Congressional Award

Programme

The highest youth leadership program recognized by the U.S. Congress, fostering future leaders through personal development and community contribution.

§ Overview

What is the Congressional Award?

The Congressional Award is the United States Congress' only charity and the highest honor bestowed upon America's youth for their commitment to voluntary public service, personal development, and physical fitness.

Key Benefits

Why this matters

  • i. Distinguished experience for college applications
  • ii. Leadership and personal development opportunities
  • iii. Social impact through community contribution
  • iv. Congressional certificate and medal award
Students working together
Plate I.

Youth Leadership Development Program

§

Established by Congress in 1979 — a non-partisan, non-political honor open to all youth.

§ Datasheet

Program requirements

Six achievement tiers — three Certificates and three Medals — measured across four programme areas. Hours and months are cumulative across levels.

Congressional Award Program Requirements

Program Area Bronze Certificate Silver Certificate Gold Certificate Bronze Medal Silver Medal Gold Medal
Voluntary Public Service 30 hours 60 hours 90 hours 100 hours 200 hours 400 hours
Personal Development 15 hours 30 hours 45 hours 50 hours 100 hours 200 hours
Physical Fitness 15 hours 30 hours 45 hours 50 hours 100 hours 200 hours
Expedition/Exploration 1 day 2 days 3 days 2 days / 1 night 3 days / 2 nights 5 days / 4 nights
Minimum Total Hours 60 hours 120 hours 180 hours 200 hours 400 hours 800 hours
Minimum Months Required None None 6 months 7 months 12 months 24 months
§ Notice

Important notes

Read each requirement carefully before registering — the Congressional Award has specific rules on eligibility, completion, and sequencing.

  • 01

    Participants must be ages 14 to 23. Registration is allowed at age 13.5.

  • 02

    All four program areas must be completed at each level. Partial completion does not count.

  • 03

    Time requirements are cumulative. Hours and months can carry over from one level to the next.

  • 04

    Activities must be sustained over the minimum number of months. Completing all hours in a short period is not sufficient.

  • 05

    Expedition/Exploration must include overnight experiences for Medal levels.

  • 06

    All activities must be pre-approved after registration and written goals submitted.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the Congressional Award Program Book (PDF).

§ The Four Pillars

Program Areas

Every participant designs goals across four mandatory areas — each one cultivates a distinct dimension of leadership.

01
Service

Voluntary Public Service

Develop social responsibility and community awareness through volunteer service activities.

02
Growth

Personal Development

Acquire new skills and knowledge to pursue personal growth and development.

03
Fitness

Physical Fitness

Form a healthy lifestyle through activities that improve physical health and fitness.

04
Expedition

Expedition/Exploration

Develop adventurous spirit and exploration skills through new environments and challenges.

§ Process

How to get started

A three-step admission into the programme — registration, goal setting, and progress tracking under advisor guidance.

01
Step One

Register

Register on the official Congressional Award website and find an Advisor.

02
Step Two

Plan Activities

Set goals in all four areas and establish activity plans.

03
Step Three

Track Progress

Regularly record progress and consult with your Advisor.

§ Voices

Success stories

Reflections from former recipients on how the Congressional Award shaped their leadership.

I.
Gold Medal
"

Through the Congressional Award, I was able to develop leadership skills and contribute to the community. This experience was also very helpful for college admissions.

Sarah Johnson

Gold Medal Recipient

II.
Silver Medal
"

Through this program, I was able to develop both personal growth and social responsibility. I was able to cultivate qualities as a future leader.

Michael Chen

Silver Medal Recipient

§ Begin Your Journey

Ready to start your journey?

Start your Congressional Award journey with Elite Prep.

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