Rothfus Congratulates Congressional Award Gold Medal Recipients

Congressman Keith Rothfus presented two from Western Pennsylvania, including a Sewickley resident, with the Congressional Award Gold Medal on Wednesday.

Rothfus, R-Sewickley, congratulated J. Cameron Barge of Sewickley and Natalie Domeisen of O’Hara Township on earning their medals, which he presented to them at a ceremony held in Washington, D.C.

“Cameron and Natalie are outstanding young Americans who have significant public service achievements that should be commended,"  Rothfus said in a statement.  

Cameron’s service efforts extended from running a summer camp in Costa Rica to coaching math counts and teaching golf and computer skills.  He focused 400 Voluntary Public Service hours on helping kids.  For Personal Development, he focused on developing his math skills, getting involved in ARML.  He learned a new sport – crew – for his physical fitness goal and improved his physical state.  He also planned a five-day, four-night 300+ mile bike trip from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. for his Expedition  His adviser is Emily Shipley.

"By participating in the Congressional Award Program and working toward my goals, I was motivated to find new ways to get involved with the world around me and learned new things, met new people and experienced new places that I otherwise never would have," Cameron said.

Natalie volunteered with the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America.  For Personal Development, she took piano lessons, studying with her teacher and on her own for several hours a week. For her Physical Fitness portion, she set goal times for herself in the 50 yard freestyle in swimming and for her Expedition, she planned a five-night camping trip in the Laurel Mountain Ridge Mountains. Her adviser is Mary Kapral.

"I had an amazing experience earning my Congressional Award Gold Medal, and learned that I really can achieve anything with dedication," she said.

Rothfus said the accomplishments "reflect commitment, dedication and perseverance." 

"Cameron and Natalie are exceptional role models for their peers,” he said. 

More than 50,000 young men and women from across the country between the ages of 14 and 23 applied, but fewer than 300 were selected by the Congressional Award Foundation for the honor. 

Winners had to perform two years or at least 400 hours of community service, 200 hours of both personal development and physical fitness activities, and a four-night expedition or exploration.

Established in 1979 by an act of Congress, the program is meant to encourage the nation’s youth “to learn the value of service, personal development, fitness, and citizenship through character forming experiences that shape tomorrow’s leaders and our country’s future.”