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American Morning

Congressional Award Honors Youths for Achievement

Aired June 20, 2001 - 09:22   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, speaking of success, Congress is honoring some young Americans this morning with the Congressional Award. This is an award that's given to youngsters aged 14 to 23. They can earn bronze, silver and gold awards for four different program areas.

Take a look at these. They are volunteer public service, which involves sharing time and talent for the benefit of others. Personal development, which calls on you to expand your own horizons. Physical fitness, requiring you to improve your quality of life through participation in fitness activities. And finally, expedition and exploration, which means challenging yourself through an interaction with the wilderness or some unfamiliar culture.

Our next two guests are Congressional Gold Medal winners in these areas. They are Rebecca Benavidez and Adam Jussel. They join us, live, from our bureau in Washington.

Good morning, guys. Congratulations on winning these gold medals.

ADAM JUSSEL, CONGRESSIONAL GOLD AWARD WINNER: Good morning.

REBECCA BENAVIDEZ, CONGRESSIONAL GOLD AWARD WINNER: Good morning to you.

HARRIS: All right. Ladies first. Rebecca, I've got to -- I have to think that this is not the most boring day you've ever had, huh?

BENAVIDEZ: No, it's been very exciting.

HARRIS: What's it mean to you?

BENAVIDEZ: It's just a wonderful feeling. It's self-rewarding and it's just -- it's great to know that you've benefited and helped others and that others are benefiting from you, from what you've done.

HARRIS: Well, explain to us how it was that you won the gold medal in your category and in your age group? What is it -- what is it that you did?

BENAVIDEZ: I work through a local community center, Del Haven (ph) Community Center, in my community, and what I did was I volunteered with youth ranging from ages 5 to 12. I was a mentor, a tutor. I also volunteered working in a home for mentally challenged and disabled adults where we taught them living skills and, you know, arts and crafts and just spent a lot of one-on-one time with them.

HARRIS: Yes, sounds great.

Now, Adam, you're no slouch either. You've done quite a few things. I'm looking here at your little curricula vita here. You've got different programs that you've put together. Got Neighbors In Need, the Twin Falls recreation and the Twin Falls basketball program and a food distribution program. How'd you get started doing all this kind of stuff?

JUSSEL: Well, there's great people involved that get us involved in Idaho, like our congressman. Senator Larry Craig got me involved when I was 14 years old and I was an eighth grader. And, you know, he just -- they promote the programs so much just to get youth involved into their community and to reach out and improve themselves and improve the people around them.

HARRIS: What made you decide to want to do that because, you know, I -- man, remember when I was that age that wasn't considered the coolest thing to do to go spend your time distributing food to people who were in need, not when you're 18 years old, there's other things to do. Why did you do it?

JUSSEL: Well, it's just how you want to use your time. I mean you can sit around or you can go out and improve your community and help people. And I just wanted to spend my time in a worthwhile cause and so the Congressional Work Program gave me that opportunity to not only meet people but reach out. So I thought that was great.

HARRIS: All right. Now I know you have to stay in the program for awhile before you get to the gold medal level. Now, Adam, how many years were you in this?

JUSSEL: Four-and-a-half years.

HARRIS: OK. Rebecca, how long did it take you to get to this level?

BENAVIDEZ: I've actually been involved in the program for the past eight years. I've received the bronze, the silver and now the gold, so it's been a long process but worthwhile.

HARRIS: Yes. Yes, this is all about youth and about group -- kids and young adults in your age groups getting out there and getting involved and getting themselves out involved in other people's lives. But I want to ask you about any adults really help you in this process and inspire you in any sort of way, Rebecca.

BENAVIDEZ: My parents for one. They pushed that I could do anything that I put -- set my mind to and they've always been there to support me. My adviser, Tim Seal (ph), has also been very, very supportive and, you know, just helped me along the way. The times that you feel like you -- you know it's going to -- it's a long process, and you know, it's -- the end's never there, they just kind of give you that lift up and let you know that, you know, everything you're doing is worthwhile and just, you know, they're there to support and back you up 100 percent.

HARRIS: Well, Adam, you've done enough right now, but what is it you want to do with yourself when you get -- after you get to, say, be an old man of 22 or 23?

BENAVIDEZ: I am actually in school. I want to go into the field of social work -- child care.

HARRIS: Adam?

JUSSEL: I'm actually leaving later this week to attend the United States Air Force Academy, so I'm going to start my journey there and we'll just see where it goes from there.

HARRIS: Way to go, guys. You guys are some great examples for...

JUSSEL: Thank you very much.

BENAVIDEZ: Thank you.

HARRIS: ... other kids who will follow in your footsteps.

Adam Jussel and Rebecca Benavidez, good luck to both of you. Congratulations on the gold medal.

JUSSEL: Thank you.

BENAVIDEZ: Thank you.

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