[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 20, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E845]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





CONGRATULATING COLLEEN MURRAY ON RECEIVING THE CONGRESSIONAL AWARD GOLD 
                                 MEDAL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARIO DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 20, 2017

  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Miami 
Springs resident Colleen Murray for her dedication to bettering our 
community and receiving Congress's highest honor, the Congressional 
Award Gold Medal.
   To receive the Congressional Award Gold Medal, one must demonstrate 
immense dedication and be willing to sacrifice a great amount of time. 
All recipients must participate in 400 hours of voluntary community 
service, 200 hours of personal development, 200 hours of physical 
activities, and an additional four night mission of their choosing. 
This is all done within a two year time frame.
   For Colleen's public service, she chose to highlight her 
appreciation for classical music and opera. Colleen volunteered at 
local hospitals and provided music therapy to patients. By utilizing 
her passion, Colleen not only improved her musical skills but also 
helped others in our community. Colleen incorporated her love of music 
for her personal development requirement as well. She dedicated time to 
improve her harp skills in order to compete in regional and national 
competitions. Most notably, she performed with the New World Symphony. 
For her physical fitness requirement, Colleen built up her stamina and 
ran one mile at a consistent pace despite a persistent knee injury.
   As Colleen was nearing her goal, she had to complete her four days 
of exploration. With an interest in history, she visited a variety of 
sites in Tennessee, South Carolina and Georgia, ranging from the 
Revolutionary War to the Civil Rights era. During the evening, Colleen 
stayed with local families to fully immerse herself in the experience. 
With all of the activities Colleen completed, she not only bettered the 
community, but herself.
   Mr. Speaker, I am honored to congratulate Colleen Murray on her 
accomplishment, and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing her 
outstanding achievement. It is an honor to know that Florida's 25th 
District has an individual with such a bright future.

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