Costello presents Congressional Award to Coventry Christian Schools senior
WEST CHESTER » A Coventry Christian Schools senior has earned the Congressional Award Bronze Medal for logging more than 100 hours of volunteer service and achieving several challenging personal development goals.
Christian Molfetto of Perkiomen Township received the Bronze Medal from Congressman Ryan Costello during a ceremony on May 21.
To qualify for the Congressional Award Bronze Medal, Molfetto completed a minimum of 100 hours of public service. He also spent an additional 100 hours and at least seven months working toward the goals set in the areas of personal development, physical fitness and expedition.
Costello commended Molfetto for taking the initiative to find organizations and projects in need of volunteers and thanked Molfetto’s parents, teachers and advisors who supported him as Molfetto worked on completing the requirements for earning the Congressional Award Bronze Medal.
“Public service and helping our neighbors builds a true sense of community,” Costello said. “Even during times when our country experiences a toxic political environment, volunteerism and community engagement reminds us that we all share common ideals, including a genuine desire to come together and make the places we live better. By recognizing the accomplishments of Christian and other students who have earned this distinguished award we are congratulating them on a job welldone and hopefully inspiring others to give back to their community and commit to setting and achieving their own goals.”
Molfetto met his public service goal by getting involved his Lower Pottsgrove Township school’s annual charity auction, traveling to West Virginia for an Appalachian service project, and assisting with an event center expansion project.
He also achieved a personal development goal by enrolling in summer classes to expand his math skills and a physical fitness goal of improving his free throw percentage and ballhandling skills in basketball. To meet the Congressional Award expedition requirement, Molfetto took a trip to San Antonio, Texas where he gained an appreciation for the cultural significance of Mexican-American relations by visiting the Alamo, sampling local cuisine and observing the region’s unique architecture.
Molfetto said that working toward the Congressional Award taught him the importance of time management, especially making time after school and on weekends for his volunteer work.
“It was definitely challenging at times, but it was really rewarding being able to help my community and achieve something that’s recognized by Congress,” Molfetto said.
Congress established The Congressional Award in 1979 to recognize initiative, service, and achievement in young people age 14 to 23.
The program is funded primarily by charitable contributions. Congress provides in-kind support by authorizing the U.S. Mint to produce the medals provided to recipients as well as allowing the use of office space in the Capitol.
Approximately 48,000 youth participate in the program across the country. To learn more about The Congressional Award or enroll in the program visit http://congressionalaward.org