[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 88 (Wednesday, June 19, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E913-E914]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  FOUR STUDENTS HONORED WITH CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL AWARD FOR THEIR 
                 COMMITMENT TO SERVING PINELLAS COUNTY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. C. W. BILL YOUNG

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 19, 2013

  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend four students 
who are being honored today with the Congressional Award Gold Medal for 
individual achievement in volunteer public service, personal 
development, physical fitness, and exploration. For the benefit of my 
colleagues, I would like to outline some of their accomplishments.
   Hannah Foster, a resident of Seminole, Florida, volunteered with the 
Largo Library and the Florida Gulf Coast Center for Fishing & 
Interactive Museum in Florida's 13th congressional district where she 
arranged exhibits and hosted a summer camp for students. She tested her 
endurance through kayaking voyages and attended the Student Leadership 
University to enhance her ability to inspire others. She has studied 
history extensively in order to widen her international perspective. 
Hannah reconnected with her heritage through a seven-day Mandarin 
language immersion trip to Chinatown in San Francisco.
   Another one of my constituents, Milan Patel of Clearwater, Florida, 
volunteered more than 400 hours for Suncoast Hospice, a valued center 
in the community, for more than 35 years. She founded the Suncoast 
Hospice Teen Music Program and played the guitar daily at the bedside 
of terminally ill patients. In addition, Milan traveled to Boca Raton 
every weekend to hone her fencing skills. She also fenced in the Junior 
Olympics for the past two years and journeyed to Cambodia and Laos to 
learn the art of meditation while living with a group of monks.
   Alexander Smith of St. Petersburg volunteered with Habitat for 
Humanity of Pinellas County. He worked both in a warehouse and on job 
sites to build houses in low-income communities. Alexander also hiked 
for seven days in the Blue Ridge Mountains to refine his survival and 
team-building skills and played the bagpipe competitively. A skilled 
athlete, he also participated in his high school's rowing team, won a 
United States Rowing Silver Medal, and is currently rowing for Cornell 
University.
   Ryan Sutherland volunteered at Bay Pines Veterans Administration 
hospital, and he also served as a sailing instructor for 
underprivileged youth. Because of his deep interest in healthcare and 
his experience as a boy scout, he completed both an advanced emergency 
medical technician and American Red Cross lifeguard course and 
dedicated 1,000 hours to focusing on expanding his healthcare, music, 
and leadership knowledge. Ryan aided in Pinellas County's humanitarian 
efforts through his own organization, Water for Africa. He served as 
the president of the Inklings Book Club, which sought to promote 
literacy in my district. Ryan reached the summit of Mount Washington 
and spent 300 hours hiking, cycling, and running. He also sailed a 34-
foot sailboat to Key West and the Dry Tortugas.
   Mr. Speaker, these four young people serve as models of patriotism 
and principle for the rest of our nation's youth. Their goals of self-
motivation will continue to guide them throughout their lives, and I 
have no doubt they will make great contributions to our country in the 
future. The Congressional Award program is essential to our nation, and 
I commend these students for attaining this high level of community 
service and personal responsibility for which it stands.

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