University of Pittsburgh, School of Social Work's own Dylan Fearing has earned the Congressional Award Gold Medal.
The Congressional Award is Congress’s only charity. Established to law in 1979, the Congressional Award was created to honor, encourage, and inspire America’s youth. In the ensuing years, Congress has recognized thousands of outstanding young Americans who have earned and deserve our admiration and recognition. Dylan shared:
"I believe that good citizens do their duty to our country by having a positive impact in their community. Through the Public Service component of the Congressional Award, I spent two summers volunteering at the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter in Cambridge, Massachusetts, providing shelter, food and aid to guests. After completing training to understand how to help guests and contribute to shelter operations, I cooked hot meals and cleaned the kitchen, dining and sleeping areas. Guests at the shelter are citizens facing unfortunate situations, for example medical issues with major financial repercussions. There is often a prejudice or a stigma against people experiencing homelessness, but the shelter guests were all working towards permanent housing and a more stable life. My public service ended up being another boost to my steadfast conviction to make the world a better place for everyone.