[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 6419-6420]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   IN PRAISE OF ``PRESIDENTIAL SERVICE AWARD'' WINNER, MELISSA MORGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TIMOTHY WALBERG

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 14, 2007

  Mr. WALBERG. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a special young 
lady, a constituent of mine, Ms. Melissa Morgan of Hillsdale, Michigan. 
Ms. Morgan is a recipient of the highest level of the ``Presidential 
Service Award,'' the Gold Level, honoring her dedication to Hillsdale 
community through her volunteer efforts.
  Ms. Morgan is a student at Hillsdale High School where she has been 
involved with several extracurricular activities which include: soccer, 
basketball and volleyball, as well as cross country. Melissa was the 
Vice President of the Hillsdale High School National Honor Society, 
senior class representative for student council and also a participant 
in the Student Statesmanship Institute. This is just a short list of 
the activities Melissa has participated in at Hillsdale High School.
  Madam Speaker, those activities which I have just named are 
impressive, however, Ms. Morgan's volunteer efforts are the heart of 
the ``Presidential Service Award.'' In his 2002 State of the Union 
address, President George W. Bush called on all Americans to increase 
volunteerism within their communities. From this call to action came 
the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation in 2003 
which sought out ways to recognize outstanding volunteers, such as 
Melissa Morgan. The Council created President's Service Award Program 
and the Presidential Service Award.

[[Page 6420]]

  The Gold Level of the ``Presidential Service Award,'' requires young 
adults, such as Ms. Morgan, to volunteer two hundred fifty hours or 
more of their time. Ms. Morgan has eclipsed this threshold almost five 
times, netting just below 1200 volunteer hours. I will highlight just a 
few of Melissa's volunteer activities; Spanish assistant and tutor--180 
hours, Key Club volunteer--200 hours, 40 hours dedicated to organizing 
and running a children's sports camp raising money for Hurricane 
Katrina victims and 10 hours volunteered with Habitat for Humanity.
  Melissa Morgan is a great example of everything right with America 
and is a reflection of the spirit of a true Michigander, selfless and 
fighting for a cause greater then themselves. I am pleased to 
congratulate Melissa Morgan on her achievement of the ``Presidential 
Service Award,'' and I commend her for her work.

                          ____________________