[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 9, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1420-E1421]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        TRIBUTE TO RECIPIENTS OF CONGRESSIONAL AWARD GOLD MEDAL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 9, 2008

  Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, last month I was honored to 
participate in a ceremony honoring four local Kansas residents for 
their contributions to local communities and commitment to personal 
development. Honorees received the 2008 Congressional Award Gold Medal 
during a reception on Capitol Hill.
  I was proud to help celebrate the achievements of these outstanding 
young men and women and honor them with this distinguished award. Their 
dedication to helping others and self-improvement is not only 
inspiring, but it reminds us that changing the world starts with each 
of us.
  Sydney Ayers, one of today's recipients and a resident of Leawood, 
spoke during the June 19th ceremony, providing reflections on her 
achievement and the importance of community service.
  Earning the Congressional Award Gold Medal requires a significant 
commitment, in both time and energy. Each participant must spend two 
years or more completing at least 400 hours of community service, 200 
hours of both personal development and physical fitness activities and 
a 4-night Expedition or Exploration. The Congressional Award Gold Medal 
is the pinnacle of these achievements.
  The 2008 Kansas 3rd District recipients are:
  Sydney Ayers, Leawood, worked with children and the elderly, 
volunteering at several locations across the United States and Mexico. 
She performed in plays, worked as the backstage manager for several 
productions and took ballroom dance lessons, in addition to playing 
high school tennis, USTA tennis and managing the boys' high school 
team. She also planned and completed a 5-day adventure in the Alaskan 
wilderness.
  Benjamin Connell, Lenexa, volunteered at Lakeview Village Nursing 
Home and the Boys and Girls Club, mentoring young children, 
facilitating anti-drug/alcohol lessons and tutoring. He also worked in 
the career development office at Kansas State University, learning how 
to teach and counsel students. Ben focused on exercising and 
participating in intramural sports and backpacked at Philmont Scout 
Ranch in New Mexico.
  Christopher Connell, Lenexa, raised funds for charitable causes, 
mentored young children and helped the elderly with a variety of tasks 
in addition to working as a waiter at an assisted living facility. 
Cross Country running and lifting weights improved his 5K running time. 
Chris also spent six nights in the wilderness at Double H Ranch, which 
is associated with Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.
  Nicholas Connell, Lenexa, shared his musical talent by preparing a 
repertoire of music, including Peter and the Wolf, on the oboe and 
holding public performances in several different venues. Nick's 
creative talents also include writing, for which he won a 1st place 
prize for a piece of short fiction. He pushed himself physically by 
running on a treadmill and consistently exercising on an elliptical 
machine, in addition to hiking over 60 miles at Philmont Scout Ranch in 
New Mexico.
  I am pleased to include in the Congressional Record two articles from 
the Kansas City Star highlighting this award and the outstanding young 
Kansans who received it.

               [From the Kansas City Star, June 28, 2008]

           Lenexa Brothers Win Congressional Award Gold Medal

                            (By Alexia Lang)

       Hard work and dedication earned three Lenexa brothers the 
     2008 Congressional Award Gold Medal.
       Benjamin, Christopher and Nicholas Connell traveled to 
     Capitol Hill for the award ceremony recently; they were 
     representing three out of four Kansas residents to receive 
     the award. Sydney Ayers, 17, of Leawood, was the fourth 
     recipient.
       Congressman Dennis Moore participated in the ceremony, 
     citing their achievements as inspiring.
       ``Their dedication to helping others and to self-
     improvement is not only inspiring, but it reminds us that 
     changing the world starts with each of us,'' Moore said.
       In order to qualify for the medal, applicants must spend 
     two or more years completing at least 400 hours of community 
     service, 200 hours of personal development, 200 hours of 
     physical fitness activities and a four-night expedition or 
     exploration.
       Nicholas Connell, 22, said his mother found out about the 
     award and he decided to pursue it in 1999.
       ``It so happened that a lot of the requirements for the 
     Congressional Award coincided with things I was already doing 
     for Scouting, or with school activities, etc.,'' he said.
       Nicholas prepared and performed music on the oboe for 
     several public performances, including charity concerts at 
     local schools and assisted living centers.
       He also was able to gather and send school supplies to 
     children in need in Mexico.
       To satisfy his four-night expedition or exploration 
     requirement, Nicholas hiked over 60 miles at Philmont Scout 
     Ranch in New Mexico.
       Benjamin Connell, 24, also began the program in 1999. He 
     said he was attracted to the structure and direction for 
     setting goals the program would bring to his life.
       ``It also provided accountability in attaining my goals 
     because my advisors tracked my progress,'' he added.
       Benjamin spent most of his community service time at 
     Lakeview Village Retirement

[[Page E1421]]

     Center in Lenexa and the Boy's and Girl's Club in Manhattan, 
     Kan.
       At Lakeview Village, he assisted the elderly in daily 
     activities and ran bingo games in Lakeview's Health Center.
       The Boy's and Girl's Club provided opportunities for 
     Benjamin to tutor elementary-age students, facilitate anti-
     drug and anti-alcohol programs and provide structured after-
     school activities.
       Benjamin said he would encourage others to work for this 
     award because it challenges participants to get out into the 
     community outside of their comfort zone.
       ``I think this award helps youth build a strong, goal 
     driven foundation that is focused on service,'' he said.
       The youngest brother to receive the award, Christopher 
     Connell, 19, said he has enjoyed serving others since 
     beginning the program in 2002.
       His service hours include volunteering at Lakeview Village 
     Retirement Community, fundraising for charity causes at 
     Shawnee Mission West High School and planting and mulching 
     trees at Shawnee Mission Park.
       For his expedition, Christopher spent six nights in the 
     wilderness at Double H Ranch, associated with Philmont Scout 
     Ranch.
       Christopher said this honor is awarded based on a person's 
     willingness to improve.
       ``Anyone can earn this award because it isn't a competition 
     except with yourself,'' he said.
       Nicholas said he encourages others to pursue the award 
     because many are already doing what is needed to receive it.
       ``You have to do the necessary paper work and enroll in the 
     program to make sure you get the award,'' he said. ``The 
     Congressional Award won't seek you out--you have to let them 
     know you are working on it and provide the proper 
     documentation.''
                                  ____


               [From the Kansas City Star, June 28, 2008]

             Congressional Award Goes to Leawood Teen-ager

                            (By Alexia Lang)

       After three years of hard work and determination, Sydney 
     Ayers got her reward: a trip to Capitol Hill to receive the 
     Congressional Award Gold Medal from Congressman Dennis Moore.
       Ayers, a 17-year-old from Leawood, was chosen from among 
     the Kansas recipients to make a speech about the experience 
     of being in the Congressional Award program. ``My goal was to 
     improve the lives of others, specifically children and the 
     elderly,'' Ayers said.
       During the ceremony June 19, Moore, who presented the 
     awards to the four Kansas recipients, said he was proud to 
     celebrate their achievements.
       ``Their dedication to helping others and self-improvement 
     is not only inspiring, but it reminds us that changing the 
     world starts with each of us,'' he said.
       Ayers decided she wanted to work for the award in eighth 
     grade after hearing that a senior at her school had received 
     it.
       She consulted with Susan Harper, one of her teachers at 
     Barstow School, and they mapped out a plan that would allow 
     her to accomplish her goal in three years. Harper became her 
     mentor/sponsor.
       To qualify for the medal, applicants must spend two or more 
     years completing at least 400 hours of community service, 200 
     hours of personal development, 200 hours of physical fitness 
     activities, and a four-night expedition or exploration.
       Sherry Dodds Ayers, Sydney's mother, said, ``Since this was 
     such a big project, she was very careful to pick things that 
     were realistic. There are many kids who start this program 
     and never finish.''
       Ayers completed her community service hours by volunteering 
     at a memory care center, a retirement home, a children's 
     home, an orphanage in Mexico and for Christmas in October.
       She superseded the physical activity requirements, 
     finishing with 638 hours. She is a member of the varsity 
     tennis and cheerleading teams as well as USTA tennis and 
     managed the boys high school tennis team.
       To satisfy the 200 hours of personal development, Ayers 
     participated in theatrical productions in roles ranging from 
     actor to stagehand to backstage manager.
       ``The personal development was to gain a better 
     appreciation of the arts,'' her mother said.
       Ayers' final project was a trip to Alaska with her 
     grandfather that she planned, organized and executed by 
     herself. They spent five days and four nights in a cabin with 
     limited electricity preparing all their food and hiking for 
     water.
       Ayers said her trip to a Mexican orphanage was one of the 
     most rewarding experiences.
       ``It was far outside of my comfort zone and my cultural 
     zone,'' she said.
       She added that she learned and experienced something 
     different everywhere she went.
       Sherry Ayers said she is most proud that her daughter stuck 
     with the program and completed her goal.
       ``It's a lot of hard work,'' she said.
       Ayers said she would recommend the program to others 
     because of the return on the hard work invested.
       She said, ``After how hard it is and how dedicated you have 
     to be, it's nice to see the result after all of these 
     years.''

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