Hillsborough Local, Somerset Co. VoTech Student Receives Congressional Award Gold Medal

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Noor Fatima of Hillsborough, a junior enrolled in the Academy for Health and Medical Sciences at Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School (SCVTHS), has earned the Congressional Award Gold Medal.

This award is presented to students in recognition of their initiative, service, and achievement.

The Congressional Award was established by the U.S. Congress in 1979 and is considered the "highest honor for youth civilians."

The purpose of the award is to promote community involvement through volunteerism, encourage personal development and goal-setting, and improve physical abilities through fitness activities.

In her application, Fatima cited a number of activities she engaged in that fulfilled the goals of the Congressional Award.

Her volunteer service included tutoring underserved members of the community in English, Math, Urdu, and German; organizing a community-wide cleanup initiative with volunteer teams; and serving as an assistant teacher for a special education summer school program.

She fulfilled the physical element of the award as a Varsity player on the SCVTHS soccer team and as a coach for Hillsborough recreational soccer teams.

Fatima also focused on personal growth, teaching herself to play the melodica and the guitar, shadowing a dental surgeon, and taking classes in Arabic to expand her repertoire of languages.

"Getting the Congressional Award means a lot to me because it recognizes all the effort I’ve put into setting goals, challenging myself, and helping my community," said Fatima. "I love helping people and volunteering—their reactions are rewarding enough—but receiving this award was an additional motivation for me to keep making a positive impact."

— Submitted by Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School