'Well-Deserved Honor': Marlboro High School Student Earns Congressional Civilian Award

MARLBORO, NJ — A Marlboro high school student was recently recognized by the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners after he was named as a Congressional Award Gold Medal recipient.

Suchit Basineni, a senior at High Technology High School, was recognized during the board’s Commissioner Workshop Meeting on May 6.

According to Commissioner Director Thomas Arnone, Suchit has been pursuing this award for five years, and has completed 400 hours of volunteer service, 200 hours of personal development, and 200 hours of physical fitness.

“On behalf of the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners, we congratulate Suchit for being named a recipient of a Congressional Award gold medal,” Arnone said. “...We commend his dedication and service.”

The U.S. Congress established the Congressional Award in 1979 to recognize initiative, service, and achievement in young people, according to the Congressional Award website.

The award started as a bipartisan effort in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and serves as Congress’s highest honor for civilian youth.

As a gold medal recipient, Commissioner Dominick "Nick" DiRocco said Suchit has given "hundreds of hours" to mentoring youth, teaching science, technology, engineering and math, and supporting those with disabilities alongside his own academic pursuits at High Technology High School.

“Suchit’s efforts included building a public weather safety information kiosk, studying robotics, and performing an in-depth virtual exploration of Maui, Hawaii,” said DiRocco, who serves as a liaison to the Monmouth County Vocational School District (MCVSD). “We congratulate him on this well-deserved honor.”

To learn more about the Congressional Award, you can visit their website.