SLHS student gets medal from Hoekstra

Tue, Feb 9, 2010    to del.icio.us

SPRING LAKE TOWNSHIP — Spring Lake High School senior Shannon McAvinchey's hard work has finally been recognized.

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Monday morning, she received her Congressional Award Bronze Medal from U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, inside the cafeteria of her high school.

"I feel very special that he came here just to do this just for me," said McAvinchey, 17.

The process of earning the award began several years ago when McAvinchey's mother learned about it in a homeschooling magazine, and they eventually decided to apply for it.

In order to be eligible for the bronze-level award, McAvinchey had to meet criteria in areas of voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and a solo expedition.

For her Bronze Medal, McAvinchey said that she provided more than 100 hours of voluntary public service to her community. This included working at local food pantries and soup kitchens, an infant nursery, the local library, and Subway. She also earned a brown belt in Tae Kwan Do and advanced her skills in soccer, and she went on a solo camping expedition near her grandparents' cottage.

McAvinchey also said she was glad to receive such an honor from a congressman that she values and respects.

"I feel very special," she said. "I was just happy he was able to (honor me) before he retired."

Hoekstra said he believes this was first time that he had ever personally given a Congressional Medal Award to a student in his district.

McAvinchey has applied for the Congressional Award Gold Medal; and, if she receives it, she will spend a week in the nation's capital in June.

"We look forward to seeing (McAvinchey) in Washington for the Gold Medal," Hoekstra said, adding he was honored to congratulate her for all of the work she put in to get the award.

Officials from Spring Lake High School said they were honored to have Hoekstra show up and award one of their own with an achievement award.

"I think it shows other students that ... anything is possible," SLHS Principal Mike Gilchrist said.

Gilchrist said this is the first time in his 10 years at the school that any student has received an award like the congressional medal.

"In talking with Shannon, she is very excited about the opportunity to be able to win this award for the bronze — but (also) to move through this process for the silver and then the gold where she can represent Spring Lake and West Michigan in Washington, D.C.," Gilchrist said.

Gilchrist said the notoriety it gives McAvinchey might let a lot of students in West Michigan know that such a award exists and encourage them to apply for them.

On the Net: www.congressionalaward.org