Congressional Award

Congressional Award

Official Website https://www.congressionalaward.org/

Application Procures

STEPS TO APPLY CONGRESSIONAL AWARD: 

Eligibility: 

You must be between the ages of 14 and 24 to participate, though you can begin tracking activities as early as age 13.5.

 

Register Online: 

Visit the official Congressional Award Record Book Manager at the Submittable portal. There is a nominal registration fee required to begin the program, which is separate from your FUN Youth membership.

 

Set Your Goals: 

You must set unique and challenging goals in four mandatory program areas:

  • Voluntary Public Service: Such as participating in the Eternity Band or Audacity Academy tutoring.
  • Personal Development: Improving a skill, like participating in the PR Media Team or IT Team.
  • Physical Fitness: Engaging in physical challenges, such as Audacity Dance Club or Green Trek hikes.
  • Expedition/Exploration: Planning and embarking on a great adventure, such as the new Green Trek Camping 101 program. 

Validator: 

For each activity, you will need an adult (who is not a parent or relative) to verify your hours. FUN Youth serves as a supporting organization that can verify your efforts in their various programs.

    

Track Your Hours: 

Use the Submittable portal to record your progress. Unlike other awards, these hours are accumulative over your entire period of eligibility, allowing you to build toward higher honors (Bronze, Silver, and Gold) over several years.

 

Use the Submittable portal to record your progress: 

Once you have met the hour and month requirements for a specific award level—such as 7 months for Bronze, 12 months for Silver, or 24 months for Gold, you submit your Record Book through the portal for official evaluation.

 

Validation: 

When you log your hours and activities, the portal will email FUN Youth to confirm that you have met your specific, registered goals. FUN Youth will check the submission against its internal records and validate your submission via Submittable portal

 

Receipt of Award and Recognition

Once your Record Book is submitted, validated, and successfully reviewed by the National Office, Certificates and Medals will arrive in mail.

 

National Recognition (Gold Medalists): Those who achieve the Gold Medal are invited to Washington, D.C. for the annual Gold Medal Summit (typically held in June) for congressional meetings and a formal celebration.

Local Recognition (All Levels): FUN Youth hosts an annual Volunteer Award Ceremony, when certificates are presented by elected officials to celebrate your social impact

Congressional Award Thresholds / Requirements / Time Frames

  • Time frames listed are minimum, which means a volunteer needs to start application in or before G9 summer to reach Gold Medal award level; in or before G10 summer to reach Silver Medal award level, in order to receive award before collage application start  
  • A personal trip can potentially count as an expedition if you can demonstrate initiative, service, and achievement, and that the trip allows you to achieve your own challenging goals
  • Hours start to accumulate only after you register your goals
  • Applicants are strictly required to apply for every certificate before applying for a medal.
  • We recommend applying for all medals in sequence
  •  Expedition requirements are not cumulative, for example you can’t split a 4 night trip into two 2 night trips.
  • A personal trip can potentially count as an expedition if you can demonstrate initiative, service, and achievement, and that the trip allows you to achieve your own challenging goals

Main Differences Between PVSA & Congressional Award

  • For PVSA, FUN Youth registers hours / handles PVSA applications in house, For Congressional Award students must apply and submit records by themselves; FUN Youth can verify their efforts.  
  • PVSA is all about volunteering and volunteer hours; Congressional Award adds personal development, physical fitness and expedition  
  • PVSA hours do not accumulate year over year.  Congressional Award hours are accumulative
  • PVSA is on yearly fixed schedule; Congressional Medal Awards has variable time frame 7 month / bronze, 12 months / silver, 24 months / 24 months
  • PVSA only counts hours. Congressional Award count hours to meet your registered goal.
  • PVSA is for age 5+, with different award thresholds for different age groups; Congressional Award is for 13.5-24 only and do not have different award threshold
  • PVSA application fee is included in the FUN Youth annual membership.  Congressional Award requires a separate nominal registration fee

FAQ

  • General Program Information

    • What is the Congressional Award? It is the United States Congress’ only non-profit and highest honor for youth civilians. It is a non-partisan, voluntary, and non-competitive program that recognizes initiative, service, and achievement.

    • Who is eligible to participate? The program is open to all youth ages 14 to 24, regardless of ability, circumstance, or socioeconomic status. Participants may begin tracking activities toward their goals as early as age 13.5.

    • What are the four pillars of the program? To earn an award, participants must set and achieve goals in four specific areas: Voluntary Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration.

    • What are the levels of recognition? Participants can earn Bronze, Silver, and Gold Certificates, as well as Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medals.

    • Program Mannual – Read First 

                            https://www.congressionalaward.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Program_Book_v19_Single.pdf

    • Registration and progress submission

                            https://congressionalaward.submittable.com/submit 

    • Congressional Award Contact Information

                            information@congressionalaward.org 

    Application & FUN Youth Support

    • How do I apply for the award? Unlike the PVSA, which is handled in-house by FUN Youth, the Congressional Award is student-led. You must register and maintain your own records through the official Submittable portal

    • What is FUN Youth’s role in my application? While you are responsible for the application, FUN Youth acts as your supporting organization. Adult leaders from FUN Youth will serve as Validators to verify the hours and goals you achieve within their programs, such as the Eternity Band, Audacity Academy, or ColorVision Art

    • Is there a registration fee? Yes. While PVSA fees were included in your FUN Youth membership, the Congressional Award requires a separate nominal registration fee paid directly through the Submittable portal

    • When is the deadline to apply? There is no fixed annual deadline. The program is accumulative and moves at your own pace. However, each award level has a minimum month requirement: 7 months for Bronze, 12 months for Silver, and 24 months for Gold. So in general to reach Gold Medal Award before college application, process needs to start in or before G10 summer; to reach Silver Medal Award before college application, process needs to start before G11 summer

    Requirements & Activities

    • Can my existing FUN Youth activities count? Yes. Most FUN Youth programs already cover three of the four pillars:

      • Voluntary Public Service: Eternity Band concerts, Audacity Academy tutoring, and ColorVision community art.

      • Personal Development: Skills learned in the PR Media Team, IT Team, or specialized workshops.

      • Physical Fitness: Participation in the Audacity Dance Club or Green Trek fitness hikes.

    • How do I fulfill the “Expedition/Exploration” requirement? This pillar requires a “great adventure” or a planned trip. To support this, FUN Youth’s Green Trek program is expanding to offer expedition events such as Camping 101 (July 25-26) and other upcoming expedition events specifically designed to meet this requirement 

    • Can one activity count for two categories? In general, no. The program is goal-oriented, meaning you must set unique challenges for each pillar. While an event like a Green Trek hike can be multifaceted (e.g., exercise plus environmental cleanup), you must demonstrate how you are meeting the specific, registered goals you set for each individual category.

    • Can 3rd party programs satisfy my Congressional Award application requirements? FUN Youth can not make determination on 3rd party programs, validate them.

    • Will FUN Youth validate activities for non-FUN Youth members? With prior agreement only.

    Relationship to the PVSA

    • What happened to the PVSA? AmeriCorps placed the PVSA program on a temporary pause effective May 27, 2025. During this time, no new orders or applications are being accepted.

    • Will I lose my volunteer hours during the PVSA pause? No. FUN Youth will continue to record all member volunteer service in their internal books.

    • Will FUN Youth resume PVSA applications later? Yes. FUN Youth will automatically resume PVSA applications for all eligible members as soon as the program returns from its pause.