Unionville High School senior Madeleine Day has been recognized with the Congressional Award Gold Medal, according to a staff report from the The Daily Local News. 

The award was established into law by Congress in 1979 and remains its only charity. It was created to honor, encourage, and inspire the country’s youth. 

“Pursuing the Congressional Award Gold Medal has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” said Day. “I learned to achieve milestones by setting measurable goals for myself and, by serving those in need, I came to feel more connected to this community that I care deeply about.” 

To earn the Gold Medal, Day had to complete a minimum of 400 hours of voluntary public service, 200 hours of personal development, and 200 hours of physical fitness. She also had to spend four consecutive overnights or more exploring a new environment or culture. 

Read more about Madeleine Day in The Daily Local News.