The highest honor

Three Eastern View High School students collectively logged more than 1,700 hours of community service in their communities this year, earning each of them a prestigious Congressional Award Gold Medal and a chance to see Nickelodeon standout Nick Cannon.

Jacqueline Bedsaul, Taryn Bierhuizen and Courtney Owens were among 267 recipients Thursday during the annual event held at the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.

Also in attendance were Jimmie Lee Solomon, Major League Baseball executive vice president, and Philippe Dauman, Viacom CEO, and numerous members of Congress.

Created in 1979, this award, known as Congress’ highest honor, recognizes American youth that have dedicated hundreds of hours of community service in their communities while working on their initiative, achievements and service.

During the year, students nationwide dedicate hundreds of hours to voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition/exploration objectives.

Jacqueline Bedsaul
Jacqueline collected more than 400 hours in several areas of voluntary public service. Her service includes volunteering at the Reva Fire and Rescue department, two Culpeper County High School physical education departments and Impact Virginia.

For personal development, Jacqueline wanted to develop better field hockey techniques. Through various camps and playing time, she was chosen for the All-State team as honorable mention in her 2008 high school season.

To reach her physical fitness goal of improving her 5K time by at least five minutes, she ran at least two days a week and worked out in the weight room For her expedition, Jacqueline and several of her friends planned and implemented a camping trip to North Carolina.

Taryn Bierhuizen
Taryn completed more than 400 hours of voluntary public service as a junior auxiliary member at Culpeper Regional hospital and fundraising for the Relay for Life cancer campaign.

For her personal development, Taryn took photography courses and practiced writing in an effort to pursue an editing position at her school’s newspaper. Her passion for lacrosse inspired her to set her physical fitness goal to become a member of the varsity team by her sophomore year.

For her expedition, Taryn and her younger brother traveled to Holland where she studied the culture and learned a new language.

Courtney Owens
Courtney completed more than 900 hours of voluntary public service in her community where she coached field hockey and tennis to younger girls. She assisted her local school system with moving furniture, sorting papers and cleaning the school during the summer.

For her personal development goal, she took tennis lessons, practiced weekly, and observed others to move up in her high school’s tennis bracket.

Her physical fitness goal was to decrease her 5K time by five minutes, which she accomplished by running 20 minutes and weight training at least three times a week.

For her expedition goal, Courtney planned a camping trip over the course of a week and a half where she had the opportunity to observe and experience a Nor’easter.