[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 22, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1102]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING SCOTT CUNNINGHAM ON HIS YMCA YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT AWARDS

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                          HON. KENNY MARCHANT

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 22, 2015

  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to congratulate one of my 
personal staff members, Scott Cunningham, on his earning two 
prestigious national awards from the YMCA Youth and Government program 
for his volunteer service.
  YMCA Youth and Government exists at both the state and national 
levels and provides teenage youth with the opportunity to participate 
in model state legislatures, international assemblies, and other 
related bodies. The students involved often exhibit strong interest in 
being civic and community leaders and in developing policy ideas to 
better the world around them. At conferences, which often involve 
months of preparation on the part of the participants, the students 
learn to hone these skills. Some, like Scott, go on better prepared to 
pursue a career in public service and, in turn, give back by regularly 
helping the next generation's students in their own YMCA conferences.
  Scott first became involved with YMCA Youth and Government while in 
high school in Dallas, Texas, and was active in both Texas and national 
programs. After graduating high school in 1998, he returned to serve at 
conferences as a college advisor and has continued ever since among 
alumni volunteers at several state and national conferences. He has 
also lived his love for public service and policymaking in his own 
career. Scott came to Washington as a congressional intern in 1999. In 
2007 he joined my staff and continues to serve the people of the 24th 
district of Texas with energy and integrity, first as policy director, 
then legislative director, and presently as deputy chief of staff. I 
have no doubt that Scott's hard work and experience in YMCA Youth and 
Government, both as a student and an adult volunteer, have contributed 
to his excellent and good-humored performance.
  For his consistent efforts to make Youth and Government and its 
participants as successful as possible, Scott recently received service 
awards at two different national conferences. On June 13, he was 
awarded the YMCA Youth and Government Distinguished Service Award at 
the Youth Governors Conference in Washington, DC. This award, better 
known as the Crystal Gavel, is presented to alumni in recognition of 
dedication and exceptional service to the program. To earn it, one must 
meet the established criteria which include: having volunteered with 
Youth and Government for over ten years, personifying a spirit of 
selfless service and exemplifying the qualities of servant leadership, 
demonstrating significant personal investment in the program and a 
meaningful impact on his or her area of work, and exemplifying the Four 
Core Values of the YMCA--caring, honest, respect, responsibility--and a 
commitment to the goal that ``Democracy must be learned by each 
generation.''
  On July 2, at the 48th Annual YMCA Youth Conference on National 
Affairs in Black Mountain, North Carolina, Scott was awarded the Dr. 
Paul Grist Service Award. This lifetime honor is given for most 
distinguished service as an advisor to the conference and the Youth and 
Government program.
  For his part, Scott affirms that YMCA Youth and Government has done 
much for him in his life, and he considers it a privilege to give back 
to the program that gave him ``a whole lot and then some.'' It is an 
honor to have such a dedicated public servant assist me in many 
critical ways in representing the 24th district of Texas. And on behalf 
of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, Mr. Speaker, I ask all of 
my distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating Scott 
Cunningham on his two YMCA Youth and Government service awards and in 
thanking him for his tireless and sacrificial work to help the upcoming 
generation of young Americans learn the ideals and practice of 
democracy.

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