UPDATED: Hogan Earns Youth Award

Madison resident James Hogan will receive the Congressional Award in a ceremony June 23 at the Cannon Congressional Office Building in Washington, D.C.

Congress recognizes young Americans 14-23 through the non-partisan, voluntary, and non-competitive program. Participants earn Bronze, Silver and Gold Congressional Award Certificates and Bronze, Silver and Gold Congressional Award Medals. Each level involves setting goals in four program areas: Volunteer Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration.

Approximately 250 youths throughout the country earn the award each year.

Hogan, 21, is a graduate and is currently enrolled as a junior majoring in business at Montclair State University. He works as an adult adviser to Madison Boy Scouts' affiliate Venture Crew 77, sponsored by the .

Hogan logged more than 1,400 hours over two years in the four goal areas, said longtime Scout adviser John Kennedy, also of Madison. Among his achievements:

• He developed and led a town-wide Disaster Awareness Program that was supported by the and departments; , and Department of . The County Sheriff and Red Cross were also involved.
• He practiced and competed in a triathlon that included a 10-mile mountain bike ride, a 2-½ mile canoe portion, and a six-mile run—all in the woods.
• He went through multiple training sessions to be approved and certified as an adult leader with Boy Scouts of America, including Leadership, Child-Abuse, and Risk Management.
• He helped plan and lead two high-adventure treks as a leader—one to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, a 12-day/100-mile backpack trip—the other a canoe and portage trip at Sabattis Scout Reservation in New York state.

Kennedy said Hogan is the second Congressional Award recipient from Venture Crew 77, joining his son, Sean Kennedy, in 2008. "He is an Eagle Scout (2007) and a Venturing Silver Medal Awardee (2010)…a feat not achieved often in Boy Scouting," Kennedy said.

"My son Sean brought this award to my attention, and I have worked it into the Venture Crew program as a way to motivate these amazing young people to set and achieve goals on their own," said Kennedy.