McQuaid student Jeffrey Kemp sat down with his guidance counselor, Father John Carriero, to look over the requirements for the Congressional Award Gold Medal two years ago.
“We were a little bit shocked at first,” Kemp recalled. “Four-hundred service hours in two years, that’ll be really hard.”
Kemp, 17, a Fairport resident, worked hard in school, out of school and on the soccer field and received the honor in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, June 23.
Congress established the award in 1979 to recognize initiative, achievement and service in young people, ages 14-23. Participants needed to set goals for themselves in four areas: volunteer public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition/exploration. Gold medal recipients must have completed 400 community service hours, 200 hours of personal development and physical fitness activities, and a four-night expedition.
Fewer than 10 students from the Rochester area have received the award since its inception.
For the personal development goal, Kemp wanted to get a part-time job. He has worked as a dishwasher at Joey B’s in Fairport. “It felt great to get my first job,” Kemp said. “It gave me some confidence.”
For the volunteer aspect, Kemp and his peers at McQuaid led a Hike for Habitat (for Humanity), which raised more than $4,200 and retrofitted two burned-down homes in Lebanon, Pa., over spring break. Kemp is hoping to expand the walk as an invitational next year to include more schools.
For physical fitness, Kemp’s goal was to make the varsity soccer team or make the higher-level Doug Miller Rochester Rhinos School of Excellence. He didn’t make varsity, but met his goal of moving up on the Doug Miller team as a striker.
Lastly, for the expedition he wanted to appreciate nature, so he and his father went canoeing in the Adirondacks for four nights last summer.
Kemp enjoyed the trip to the capitol. The 252 recipients listened to a speech from Deputy Secretary of Education Anthony Miller, and met Michael Oher, who was the inspiration for the film “The Blind Side.”
Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-Fairport, presented Kemp with his award, and representatives from Slaughter’s office gave him a tour of the Capitol.
“I am delighted to present Jeff with the Congressional Award Gold Medal because I know he makes Rochester proud,” she stated. “Congress established this award to recognize initiative, achievement and service in young people and Jeff’s work with Habitat for Humanity and his ability to enlist the support of his peers shows him to be a perfect recipient of this honor.”
Even though it was a lot of work, Kemp said the award and overall experience were worthwhile and he recommends the process to others.
Kemp will begin his senior year at McQuaid in the fall. His recent trip may have influenced what he will study in college.
“I’m looking into business, but since taking a tour of the Capitol and meeting people I’m actually taking an interest in political science, so we’ll see,” Kemp said.
