Be the first Congressional Awardee in the CNMI

Want to be the first Congressional Awardee in the CNMI?

The Congressional Award, the highest honor awarded to youth constituents by a member of Congress, has yet to be claimed in the Northern Marianas.

“To date no young person from our islands has earned the award,” Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) said. “That honor of being the first ever is still possible for some young man or woman.”

The challenge to be the CNMI’s first awardee is on, with Sablan encouraging the islands’ youth to register with the program, and to have fun while participating.

“The Congressional Award is not a competition with other young people,” Sablan said. “It is a competition with yourself, a way to find out just what you are capable of achieving as an individual and of what you, as an individual, can do to make your community a better place.”

The award is earned by accumulating hours in volunteering, personal development, physical fitness, and in taking on an individual challenge. It is a “fun and interesting way” to get awarded for something a young person already enjoys doing, or something he or she would like to try for the first time.

To pursue the award, participants have to register at www.congressionalaward.org, and set goals for themselves, and complete them at his or her own pace, in four program areas: Voluntary Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration.

“There are many service-oriented, active, and determined youth [on] our islands. I believe in our young people and look forward to seeing them get the recognition they deserve through a Congressional Award,” Sablan said.

Activities of those CNMI youth who are already active in a service organization, or with musical or artistic endeavors, sports teams, or community service work, may already be a start toward earning the Congressional Award.

Since its founding, Congressional Award participants have already contributed 8.1 million hours of service to their communities.

Since the award is also a great way to bolster college applications and résumés, for schools, clubs, or organizations interested in informational presentations about the Congressional Award for your students or youth membership, email kilili@mail.house.gov to schedule a session.

To learn more about the Congressional Award, visit http://sablan.house.gov or call (670) 323-2647. You can also visit www.congressionalaward.org to register online and access the electronic version of the official program book.