NEWARK, NJ - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today honored 31 young people from across New Jersey during an address at the 2014 Annual Congressional Award Ceremony at Seton Hall Law School. Open to all 14 to 23 year olds, participants in the program earn Bronze, Silver and Gold Congressional Award Certificates and Bronze, Silver and Gold Congressional Award Medals. Each level involves setting personal goals in four program areas; Volunteer Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration.

"Each of you is an outstanding young American who represents the best of your generation," said Sen. Menendez in his keynote address. "You are the future of public service and volunteerism, the future of giving, of personal development, curiosity and exploration, following your dreams and achieving new levels of involvement and productivity. All of us in New Jersey are proud."

Congress established the Congressional Award in 1979 to recognize initiative, achievement and service in young people. It began as a bipartisan effort in both the United States Senate and the House of Representatives. The original bill was sponsored by Senator Malcolm Wallop of Wyoming and the late Congressman James Howard of New Jersey. The enabling legislation established the Congressional Award as a private-public partnership, which receives all funding from the private sector, and was originally signed into law by President Jimmy Carter. Presidents Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama have each signed continuing legislation.

Today's Honorees:

Gold

  • Eva Boal, Princeton, Mercer County
  • Daniel Cho, Englewood Cliffs, Bergen County
  • Sam Kuster, Clinton, Hunterdon County
  • Alexander Louie, Hillsborough, Somerset County
  • Melissa Louie, Hillsborough, Somerset County
  • Kevin Ng, Oradell, Bergen County
  • Samuel Pfister, Hillsborough, Somerset County
  • Lindsay Ramsland, Pennington, Mercer County
  • Francis Uzzolina, Millville, Cumberland County
  • Shannon Wedel, Monmouth Beach, Monmouth County
  • Hari Ravichandran, Silver/Gold, Holmdel, Monmouth County

Silver

  • Seth Alicea, Clifton, Passaic County
  • Ekta Krishnamoorthy, North Brunswick, Middlesex County
  • Alexsandra Taylor, Jackson, Ocean County
  • Sarah Wain, Holmdel, Monmouth County
  • Isaiah Udotong, Cinnaminson, Burlington County
  • Navya Ravi, Holmdel, Monmouth County
  • Avani Pavuluri, Bronze/Silver, Robbinsville, Mercer County

Bronze

  • Alexander Brescia, Millville, Cumberland County
  • Lindsey Conlan, Holmdel, Monmouth County
  • Coral McKee, Eatontown, Monmouth County
  • Victoria Mobilio, Ledgewood, Morris County
  • Chalisia Murphy, Newark, Essex County
  • Justin Ng, Manalapan, Monmouth County
  • Andrew Norman, Sewell, Gloucester County
  • Mackenzie Olson, Mantua, Gloucester County
  • Anthony Uzzolina, Millville, Cumberland County
  • Nick Ziegler, Randolph, Morris County

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