Furness hosts Congressional Medal ceremony

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Though Karika Gnep considers herself an introvert, she enjoys any occasion that encourages her to shed her shyness.

The 18-year-old senior at Horace Furness High School, 1900 S. Third St., experienced such an event Tuesday, as she and 42 other teenagers and young adults gathered at her Pennsport secondary site to receive Congressional Award medals for enriching their communities and broadening their self-knowledge. The afternoon ceremony offered added mystique, as all the honorees participate in the Migrant Education Program, whose local chapter operates at United Communities Southeast Philadelphia, 2029 S. Eighth St.

“I have come to feel empowered, especially in my use of English,” Gnep said of her involvement in the initiative, which uses numerous activities to supplement the education of the offspring of migratory farm workers who have moved within the School District of Philadelphia’s boundaries within a given three-year period. “I’m still not very outgoing, but I have much more confidence when I’m in certain situations.”

The native Cambodian and her family moved to the 600 block of Shunk Street four years ago after time in Portland, Ore., and she soon sought the necessary means to adjust to her new culture. Gradually adding English to her native tongue, she learned of the program’s alignment with the U.S. Congress, which through the Congressional Medal Act of 1979 deemed medals would go to 14- to 23-year-olds who meet goals in performing voluntary community service, tending to personal development and physical fitness and executing an expedition or exploration.

The determination of laurels depends on a participant’s accumulated time and adventures, with bronze medal winners responsible for attaining 200 combined hours in the first three areas plus one experience such as camping, hiking or traveling to a foreign country, with silver medal recipients doubling those totals and gold medal designees quadrupling the first amounts.

Having tallied 800 hours and four formative tasks, Gnep, along with four gold medal-winning peers, accepted praise from U.S. Rep. Robert Brady. As she accepted her accolade from the nine-term politician, the 18-year-old, who has helped older adults by translating materials and assisted children through Saturday tutoring sessions at United Communities, beamed a smile that thousands of pupils could come to inspect if she follows her interest in becoming a teacher. If she were to make education her vocation, she would delight fellow Cambodian Daniel Peou, an alumnus of Furness and its first-year principal.

The administrator gave an emotional and humorous keynote address in which he reflected on his 32-year journey in America following a strained existence in refugee camps. Arriving here with more goals than possessions, Peou came to define himself by his personal growth, which he attributed to his immense interest in seeing children, especially Asian individuals, thrive.

“It is definitely within you to be a leader,” the Northeast Philly resident, who received the invitation to host the assembly from the Migrant Education Program and the district late last month, said. “If I, who had my own period of doubt as an adolescent and a young man, can learn how to achieve, I see no reason that all of you, who already show so much ambition, can’t be likewise successful.”

The day’s honorees now will anticipate their next set of opportunities, with the gold medalists due to visit the nation’s capital in June.

Over the last 34 years, the Congressional Award Foundation has honored more than 50,000 youths for addressing their quartet of endeavors, with Brady especially grateful for their attention to community service.

“When I’m in Washington, many of my colleagues do not understand that Philadelphia is a city of neighborhoods and that so many people from so many cultures influence its identity,” the ranking Democrat on the U.S. House Committee on House Administration who maintains an office at 1907-09 S. Broad St., said. “You understand that just fine, so thank you for your help.”

His audience represented eight schools, with 14 Furness registrants and a combined four pupils from Edward Bok Technical High School, 1901 S. Ninth St., and South Philadelphia High School, 2101 S. Broad St. Among the local do-gooders, helping younger learners has proven a reliable and enjoyable method to increase their hours, with D. Newlin Fell, 900 W. Oregon Ave.; Francis Scott Key, 2230 S. Eighth St.; John H. Taggart, 400 W. Porter St.; and Southwark, 1835 S. Ninth St., schools gaining from their enthusiasm.

For Rupa Dulal, having any constructive role within her neighborhood will further encourage her altruism and guide her journey to self-sufficiency.

“I’m very happy,” the resident of the 2600 block of South Sheridan Street and Furness senior said of collecting a bronze medal. “Everyone has such happy faces.”

The 20-year-old arrived in South Philly from Nepal two years ago, and like her principal and fellow senior Gnep, she instantly craved her niche and began to discover her cultural pride and expand her communal awareness through Adam Forbes, the program’s student support specialist.

“I have enjoyed my time there very much,” Dulal said of the Growing Home Garden, a two-year-old space on the 700 block of Emily Street that Nepalese and Burmese clans, residing on Third to 12th streets from Snyder to Oregon avenues, manage. “Also the physical fitness part has been good because I have tried more jogging and like it more.”

Puspa Chamlagai echoed Dulal’s sentiments. Also a Furness senior and a resident of the 2600 block of South Sheridan Street, the 17-year-old has aimed to honor her Nepalese roots and has made use of an intense interest in medicine by working at area clinics. She has joined the garden families, assisted students at United Communities and watched her resolve improve since last summer when she and Dulal completed their camping expeditions. As her silver medal sparkled, Chamlagai, who like Dulal assists at the Bhutanese American Organization of Philadelphia, 2526 S. Seventh St., looked forward to engrossing herself in other activities to ensure she will wear gold next year. If she does become a triple honoree, the four-year local resident will earn a June 2014 trip to Washington, D.C., for the nation’s annual commendation of the highest honorees.

“I love challenges,” she said. “There is so much more to learn.”

Southwest Philly’s Forbes met many of the day’s heroes through their garden interactions and others through referrals from numerous agencies. Through their relationships, he has noticed their desires to evolve have helped their relatives to believe in their ability to succeed in their relatively new settings.

“They’re constantly wondering what’s next,” he said, “and that’s a great sign.”

Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.

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