CHEYENNE – Eleven Laramie students achieved a set of challenging goals in the areas of voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition/exploration in order to be recognized with 167 outstanding Wyoming youth for earning bronze, silver and gold Wyoming Congressional Awards.

U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso M.D., Representative Liz Cheney and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon recognized the students at the medal ceremony, held at the Cheyenne Civic Center on Sunday, April 7.

The 11 students from Albany County were all from Laramie: Alice Attebery, Ireland Earl, Kai Edwards, Anna Gatlin, Sydney Holles, Leila Johnson, Michaiah Jones, Katie Kvenild, Carmen Leon, Finley O’Connor, and Cody Perkins.

Goals to be accomplished in order to be considered for the Congressional Awards are determined by personal interests, skills and individualized for each participant.

Each year, The Wyoming Congressional Award Council Board of Directors hosts the Cheyenne bronze and silver medal ceremony and supports the gold medal ceremony held each summer in Washington, D.C. This year, 64 Wyoming youth received bronze medals and 64 received silver medals. In June, 70 youth will travel to the nation’s capital to receive their gold medals during a ceremony on Capitol Hill.

Earning a bronze medal requires at least a seven-month commitment while earning the gold medal involves two or more years and 400 hours of service. In order to earn a Bronze medal, participants completed 100 hours of volunteer service, 50 hours of personal development, 50 hours of physical fitness and executed a one-night exploration or expedition.

To earn a Silver medal, participants completed another 100 hours of service, 100 hours of personal development and 100 hours of physical fitness in addition to executing a two-night exploration or expedition.

The Gold Congressional Award is the most prestigious award for youth and the only award given to students by the U.S. Congress. In order to earn the Gold Congressional Award, participants must complete at least 400 hours of volunteer service, 200 hours of personal development, 200 hours of physical fitness and execute a four night and five-day exploration or expedition.

Gold medalists also receive a $2,000 higher education scholarship and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the national ceremony.

More From Y95 Country