High School Senior Honored with Prestigious Gold Congressional Award

Harmony Science Academy-Pflugerville proudly announces that senior Muammer Kara has earned the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest honors for youth in the United States. This remarkable achievement reflects Kara's commitment to personal growth, leadership, and service to his community.

Kara's journey to earning this prestigious award began during his sophomore year, inspired by a teacher who introduced him to the program. Despite facing challenges during his freshman year, Kara embraced the opportunity to work toward a meaningful goal that would help him develop as an individual and contribute positively to his community.

"Working toward the Congressional Gold Medal taught me the importance of setting goals, giving back to my community, and improving myself," Kara shared. "This process proved to me that with dedication, I can achieve anything I set my mind to."

To meet the rigorous requirements of the Congressional Award, Kara excelled in four key program areas: volunteer service, personal development, physical fitness, and exploration.

• Volunteer Service: Kara dedicated over 250 hours to serving his community. He led as captain of his school's Esports team, managing practices, scheduling games, and overseeing two competitive seasons. Additionally, he volunteered extensively at the Turkish Raindrop House in Round Rock, organizing charity events and mentoring others. Through UPchieve, an online mentoring platform, Kara provided one-on-one tutoring in subjects such as Algebra, Chemistry, and Biology, helping high school students excel academically.
• Personal Development: Kara focused on health and discipline by committing to bodybuilding. For two years, he worked out six days a week, improving his physical fitness and building valuable life habits such as meal prepping.
• Physical Fitness: A dedicated athlete, Kara played soccer throughout high school, starting on the junior varsity team and later becoming a varsity player and team MVP. His leadership as a team captain and his contribution to his team's advancement to the regional finals highlight his teamwork and perseverance.
• Exploration: Kara planned and executed a memorable five-day trip to Los Angeles, showcasing his organizational and planning skills. During the journey, he explored cultural landmarks, visited museums, and toured the University of Southern California (USC), broadening his horizons.

Kara's passion for computer science has been a driving force in his academic pursuits. Introduced to coding in middle school, he has participated in extracurricular activities in the field and tutored others in programming languages. With aspirations of attending Johns Hopkins University, Kara strives for excellence in academics and character.

Dr. Altindag, Area Superintendent, praised Kara's achievement: "Muammer exemplifies the values of Harmony Public Schools—hard work, leadership, and a commitment to service. We are incredibly proud of his accomplishment and know he has a bright future ahead."

The Congressional Gold Medal is a testament to Kara's dedication and determination. His story inspires his peers and reminds them of the power of setting goals and working hard to achieve them.

Harmony blends the highest standards and expectations with rigorous math- and science-centered curriculum and dedicated and engaged teachers and families to cultivate excellence and prepare students to succeed in college, careers, and life. At Harmony Public Schools, every child can succeed and is committed to helping them realize their full potential.

Harmony Public Schools are more than 70 high-performing PreK-12 college preparatory charter schools throughout Texas. Harmony blends the highest standards and expectations, with a rigorous math- and science-centered curriculum and dedicated and engaged teachers and families to cultivate excellence and prepare students to succeed in college, careers, and life. At Harmony Public Schools, we believe every child can succeed, and we are committed to helping them realize their full potential. To learn more about Harmony Public Schools, please visit harmonytx.org. Harmony is currently accepting applications for the 2025-2026 academic year. Students may apply at harmonytx.org/apply.