Six Mississippi State University Extension Service 4-H members in Leflore County were recognized at the annual Mississippi Congressional Award Ceremony in Jackson.
Jessica Fulgham, Austin Meriwether, Wyatt Meriwether, Cammie Moore, Evey Moore and Mary Kathryn Shaw received a bronze certificate and medal presented by U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker and U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper at the Old Capitol Museum on Oct. 14.
Moore also received his silver certificate and medal, and Fulgham was selected to sing the national anthem during the ceremony.
They are among 43 young people in Mississippi to receive honors for their completion of the national award program.
This year’s ceremony marked the 20th anniversary of the partnership between the Congressional Award Program and the Extension Service 4-H Program.
Extension Director Gary Jackson and Linda Mitchell, regional Extension coordinator at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center, helped commemorate the occasion.
“It is very much an honor for Mississippi State University and the Extension Service to be a part of this celebration,” Jackson said. “The Congressional Award Program is aligned with our 4-H youth development program. We strive to make a positive difference by teaching young people to embrace learning, set high goals and become engaged citizens. I congratulate all of you, and we expect to see great things from you in the future.”
Eligibility for the Congressional Award is open to everyone between the ages of 13½ and 23 who wish to set self-imposed goals for themselves in four program areas: personal development, physical fitness, voluntary public service, and expedition and exploration. The age- and ability-appropriate activities foster responsibility and help young people practice planning and organizational skills.
Mississippi currently has 837 program participants who collectively returned more than 41,800 service hours in their communities this year alone. Mississippi has one of the highest participation rates in the program and has had 1,951 awardees over the life of the program.
For more information about the Congressional Award Program, visit its website at www.congressionalaward.org.
