For Release: Tuesday, February 1, 2005
Frank Miles: (618) 233-8026
- U.S. CONGRESSMAN JERRY COSTELLO PRESENTS CONGRESSIONAL AWARD TO PATRICK NOVAK OF CARBONDALE
Carbondale, IL - On Monday, January 31, 2005, U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) presented Patrick Novak of Carbondale, the Congressional Gold Medal Award for the good work he has done for the betterment of his community and for the goals he has set for his own personal development. This presentation was held in the atrium of the Dunn Richmond Center on the campus of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
In addition to the award, the Congressman also presented Patrick with a Congressional Record Statement that he entered into the official record of the U.S. House of Representatives regarding Patrick's achievements.
The Congressional Award was established in 1979 by the Congressional Award Act and is open to all young people ages 14-23. To earn the award, participants must set and achieve both personal and community goals. Since the award program started, more than 6500 Congressional Awards have been earned, representing well over 1.5 million volunteer hours performed in community service across the nation.
Among his many accomplishments, Patrick earned his Gold Medal while serving active duty in the United States Air Force in Kadena, Japan. Patrick volunteered his service to raise funds for Okinawa's Misata Children's Home.
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