Congressional Award earned by freshman student at The University of Findlay

An 18-year-old freshman double-majoring in Journalism and Psychology at The University of Findlay has earned a Congressional Award gold medal from the United States Congress.

According to an article on The University of Findlay’s website, Victoria Hansen began her journey toward achieving a Congressional Award in 2019, just before the global pandemic began. She said of the challenge, “The award got me through COVID and gave me something to work towards. I absolutely love serving others and this award gave me a sense of achievement.”

The Congressional Award, according to its website, was established in 1979 with the mission to “[provide] opportunities for young people to unleash their potential by achieving personal goals focused on volunteerism, character development, and fitness.” The challenge is open to ages 14-24 and is voluntary and non-competitive. There are different levels of achievements and different categories of participation, including Physical Fitness, Voluntary Public Service, Personal Development, and Exploration.

Hansen earned a gold medal. She completed 400 hours of public service by taking part in activities like delivering diapers to families in her community and working with Meals on Wheels. She completed a research paper on Kenya, worked toward a black belt in taekwondo, and spent 200 hours working with computers.

Hansen said of the experience, “I’m almost surprised that I made it this far. The amount of dedication it took was a challenge for me, but I’m glad I did it!”

For more information about The University of Findlay, visit the school’s website.