New Participants

Set goals. Earn awards. Change the world.

The Congressional Award program is an opportunity for you to celebrate your strengths, do what you love, and create a positive impact on your community in the process.

Here’s what’s special about pursuing The Congressional Award in Wyoming:

  • You’ll get local encouragement and support from the Wyoming Congressional Award Council (WCAC) staff as you work toward the Award—and Wyoming is the only state to have a Council 
  • You’ll be honored for your achievements at our annual state medalist ceremony 
  • You’ll receive a $1,000 scholarship when you earn your Gold medal
  • You’ll get to do group activities with other Wyoming Gold Medalists and guests (hosted by the WCAC staff and board) when we travel to the Gold Medalist Summit in Washington, D.C.
You’re about to change the world for the better—and it all starts here. 

What is the Congressional Award program?

The Congressional Award is the highest honor an American youth can earn from the United States Congress, and it’s open to everyone between the ages of 13.5 and 23.

There’s no minimum grade point average required to participate, and the program easily accommodates those with special needs or disabilities.

After paying your one-time registration fee of $25, the rest of the program is free. 

(Need help covering the cost? No problem. Email us, and we’ll get you all set!) 

Once you’ve registered, you’ll set goals in four program areas—Voluntary Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition—and begin logging hours in your Record Book toward earning Bronze, Silver, and Gold certificates and medals. 

Earning the Award is an opportunity to get involved in your community, invest time in the activities you already enjoy, and explore new things you’ve always wanted to try. 

Everyone’s medal journey is unique, and that’s what we love most about the program. 

Your goals, your pace, your choice to work toward the Award on your own or with friends… each piece of your Award story is yours to create! 

For more details about The Congressional Award program, visit the FAQ on the national site

How do you earn a Congressional Award?

There are six levels of The Congressional Award: Bronze, Silver, and Gold Certificates, and Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medals. Each level is cumulative, so the time you spend to earn one award will carry with you to the next level. 

After registering and choosing your Advisor (who can be any trusted adult, as long as they’re not related to you), you’ll set personal goals in each of the four program areas and work toward them at your own pace. 

Along the way, you’ll keep track of your hours logged in a digital or hard copy Record Book; you get to choose! (Check out the FAQ on our Current Participants page to see which methods have worked for other participants in the past.) 

Certificate Levels: Minimum Hours Required per Level

Program Area Bronze Silver Gold*
Voluntary Public Service 30 60 90
Personal Development 15 30 45
Physical Fitness 15 30 45
Expedition 1 day 2 days  3 days

 

*To earn a Gold certificate, you must complete a minimum of 6 months of activity in Voluntary Public Service, Personal Development, and Physical Fitness. 

Medal Levels: Minimum Hours Required per Level

Program Area Bronze* Silver** Gold***
Voluntary Public Service 100 200 400
Personal Development 50 100 200
Physical Fitness 50 100 200
Expedition 1 night, 2 days 2 nights, 3 days  4 nights, 5 days

 

*To earn a Bronze medal, you must complete a minimum of 7 months of activity in Voluntary Public Service, Personal Development, and Physical Fitness. 

**To earn a Silver medal, you must complete a minimum of 12 months of activity in Voluntary Public Service, Personal Development, and Physical Fitness. 

***To earn a Gold medal, you must complete a minimum of 24 months of activity in Voluntary Public Service, Personal Development, and Physical Fitness. 

We can’t wait to celebrate your progress!

We’re Sarah (Executive Director) and Sally (Program Manager), and the two of us—with support from our Board of Directors—are incredibly proud to lead the Wyoming Congressional Award Council (WCAC), headquartered in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

You can call or email us any time with questions, to get help coming up with fun goals to pursue, or—our favorite—to tell us about a good experience you’ve had while working toward your goals. 

You’re about to start an incredible journey, and we can’t wait to be part of it with you. 

What questions can we answer for you?