HPU Student Earns Highest Civilian Award Presented to Youth by U.S. Congress

HIGH POINT, N.C., April 30, 2025 – High Point University student Rachel “Rae” Johnson has received the Congressional Gold Medal Award, which is the highest civilian award presented to youth by the U.S. Congress.

The award recognizes Americans ages 13-23 for outstanding accomplishments in four areas — voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and exploration. The award has gold, silver and bronze levels, depending on an individual’s level of achievement.

As part of her Congressional Gold Medal Award, Johnson, a senior majoring in communications, dedicated 536 hours to voluntary public service, including teaching cooking classes for single mothers at the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle (IFFS) program in Raleigh, North Carolina. She also taught underprivileged youth how to play golf, which is a passion of hers as a member of the PGA Jr. North Carolina State Championship golf team.

“I liked teaching real-world practical skills at IFFS,” Johnson said. “With the First Tee golf kids, it was also about teaching honesty and respect. It helped me realize we can all have a valuable influence on the community around us.”

In addition, Johnson focused on her personal development by logging 372 hours learning Spanish and Japanese and working to improve as a singer. She also performed 361 hours of physical fitness, including practicing golf and long-distance swimming, and she gained new experiences by taking a tour of foreign cultures and cuisines.

“I’ve seen Rae develop into a remarkable young lady,” said Tom Cox, her Congressional Award advisor. “She faced a lot of challenges during the COVID-10 pandemic but persevered. I like the way she concentrates on what she wants and goes after it.”

Established in 1979, Congressional Gold Medal Awards are presented at a special ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. To date, more than 8.1 million hours of service have been contributed to communities across the country as a part of the Congressional Award program.

“For over four decades, the Congressional Award has inspired young Americans nationwide to dedicate their lives to bettering themselves and their communities,” said U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis from Wyoming.