North Babylon Student Earns Congressional Silver Medal

North Babylon High School’s Morenike Olukoya has been named a Congressional Silver Medal Award winner. To earn the Silver Medal, participants must complete at least 200 hours of voluntary public service, 100 hours of personal development, and 100 hours of physical fitness. Additionally, they must spend at least three days and two nights exploring a new environment or culture. Participants must have been consistently working to achieve this award for over 12 months, the minimum timeframe to earn the Silver Medal.

Any student, aged 13 ½ through 23 years, may participate in the Congressional Award by setting and achieving individually challenging goals in four program areas. Morenike completed more than 230 hours of voluntary public service at various organizations such as Pronto Long Island, Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, New York State Parks clean-up, writing letters to elders, and volunteering at her school. 

“Volunteering to support local families in need made me more humble and grateful for my life,” Morenike said. “It also made me feel fulfilled as a person. I completed over 200 hours playing the violin in the personal development program area; I choose to advance my violin skills by improving my technique and performance. I completed over 190 hours in my physical fitness program area; I choose daily power walking and walking on the treadmill to improve my endurance and cardiovascular health. For the last program area, I choose expedition and traveled to a new place for seven days and six nights; the experience, allowed me to immerse myself in new cultures and harness my planning and leadership skills. The Silver Medal award journey has shaped me into someone more driven and mindful.”