Mount St. Mary’s University sophomore Aidan Farrell is set to attend the Annual Gold Medal Summit in Washington, D.C., this June. There, he will be presented with a Gold Medal from the Congressional Award program by U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin, Texas.
Farrell, a Texas native, is being awarded the Congressional Award for devoting over 1,550 hours to community service, physical fitness, and personal development, and for an essay he authored on visiting Iceland.
A business major, Farrell dedicated hundreds of hours to volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and Dell Children’s Medical Center, in Austin, Texas. While in high school, he participated in the Texas division of Boys State, a competitive program run by the American Legion that instills leadership and responsibility in students. Farrell also became an Eagle Scout, going on to earn a Gold Palm. He earned and maintained lifeguard and open water SCUBA certifications, as well.
Farrell began his college career at the University of Puget Sound, in Tacoma, Washington, joining their track and field and club rugby team. He quickly grew to love rugby, a passion that prompted his transfer to the Mount, where he continues to achieve.
“The exercise of setting goals [as a teen] helped me realize a simple goal of learning to play rugby could have a significant impact on my life,” he shared. “I started college attending University of Puget Sound in Washington where I was on the track team and joined the club rugby team to learn. I loved rugby so much, I transferred to Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland where I’ve made the Dean’s List and am playing on the second side of a nationally ranked team.”
Established in 1979 by the U.S. Congress, the Congressional Award recognizes service, achievement and leadership in young people. Participants earn recognition at six levels as they progress through the program achieving personal goals. The Gold Medal is the highest honor bestowed by Congress in the Congressional Award program.
