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Edwards announces first Congressional Award Bronze Medal winner

Sophie Van Arnam accepts Congressional Award Bronze Medal from U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards.

By Lightning Reports, Published: March 12, 2024

Sophie Van Arnam, a senior at Asheville High School who completed 200 hours of service to her community, has been awarded the Congressional Award Bronze Medal for North Carolina’s 11th District, U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards announced.

To earn the bronze medal, Sophie had to complete 200 hours of service over seven months, with 100 of those hours in public volunteer service, 50 hours in personal development, and 50 hours in physical fitness, in addition to a two-day expedition.

Sophie spent her service hours working with a non-profit organization called OpenDoors where she tutored students from the ages 7-10, coached gymnastics twice a week, weight trained and ran weekly with documented improved performance, and planned and participated in a camping trip to Hot Springs.

“Sophie Van Arnam is NC-11’s first Congressional Award winner during my time in Congress. It is great to be able to present this award to a WNC student for the first time,” Edwards said in a new rfelease. “Not only is her drive, discipline and commitment impressive, but Sophie has long contributed to our community through tutoring underserved youth and civic engagement. Attaining the Congressional Award is no easy feat, and the fact that she set high goals and achieved them makes it clear that Sophie’s future is bright.”

Congress established the Congressional Award in 1979 to recognize initiative, service and achievement in young people. Participants can earn Bronze, Silver and Gold Certificates, and Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals, and each level is cumulative. Participants must set personally challenging goals in four areas: voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition/exploration.