University of Southern Mississippi freshman Molly Collins was recognized earlier this semester with the Congressional Award Program’s Silver Medal, an honor that acknowledges achievements in voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition/exploration.
To earn the Congressional Silver Medal, Collins completed more than 200 hours of voluntary public service, 100 hours of personal development, 100 hours of physical fitness and met the requirements for the program’s expedition category. The Congressional Award program is open to youth ages 14-24.
A computer science major from Madison, Mississippi, Collins was presented the award by Brady Stewart, district director for U.S. Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss.
“The program pushed me outside my comfort zone and helped me realize the importance of setting goals and working to achieve them,” Collins said.
Collins began her efforts in the program by volunteering at the city of Madison’s farmers market, where she worked at the city’s booth, helped create free children’s activities, and assisted with social media. She later joined the Metro Leo Club, sponsored by the Lions Club of Madison, where she contributed to projects such as Earth Day on the Rez with Keep the Rez Beautiful and organized a Tour of Countries event for the Madison Library.
She also volunteered at the Mississippi Children’s Museum in Jackson. To fulfill her physical fitness requirements, she joined a gym to incorporate regular exercise into her schedule. Additionally, she received credit for her work with USM’s GenCyber Camp, as well as other activities through the Metro Leo Club.
“Congratulations to Molly Collins on receiving the Congressional Silver Medal,” Guest said. “She put in hours of hard work and dedication in order to earn this recognition, and I’m thankful to play a small role in encouraging her to achieve her goals with this prestigious award.”
Rachel Bell, an instructor for the Southern Miss English program, said she is thrilled for Collins but not surprised by her achievements.
“I’ve had the pleasure of having Molly in both ENG 101 and 102 (Composition I and II), and I’ve always been thoroughly impressed with the quality of her work and her diligence,” Bell noted. “Her contributions to class are always thoughtful. Working with her these last two semesters has been wonderful, and it’s been an honor to be a small part of her journey and watch her grow as a student and citizen.”