Congressman Alan Lowenthal presented three prestigious Congressional Award Medals to three young constituents from the 47th Congressional District. Awardees include Silver Medalist Joseph Bastien, a Coastline Community College student from Cypress, Bronze Medalist Justin Geffrey, a college student from Los Alamitos, and Bronze Medalist Pierce Fitle, a student of Calvary Chapel Private School in Cypress.
The Congressional Award is a public-private partnership created by congress in 1979 to recognize America’s youth for their dedication to civic service, community and personal development. The award is open to all 14 to 23 year olds and is non-partisan, voluntary and non-competitive.
To earn a Congressional Award, participants set and achieve individual goals in four program areas based on individual interest, need and ability. Program areas include voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition/exploration.
“These young people were not just selected to earn the Congressional Award — they earned it,” said Congressman Lowenthal. “Their dedication and motivation to improve the well-being of our communities deserves proper recognition. I am so proud of what they have accomplished at such a young age. The future for these three talented individuals holds unlimited potential to do great things and to inspire a new generation of young, civic-minded leaders.”
Congressman Lowenthal presented the awards to the recipients in a ceremony on May 31. He represents the cities of Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill, Avalon, Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, Cypress, Westminster, Garden Grove, Buena Park and Stanton.