Baton Rouge Youth Receives Gold Congressional Medal

December 16, 2025

Stephen Sclafani received the gold Congressional Award in a Washington, D.C. ceremony. The award is the highest honor a youth civilian can achieve through the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.

This program recognizes initiative, service, and achievement in youth ages 14-24.

"Receiving this award is an honor and a privilege,” Sclafani said. “I hope to inspire high school students to be more involved in their communities and to use their gifts and talents to elevate themselves and those around them.”

The Congressional Award was established in 1979 by Congress as a public-private partnership. This program is the only non-profit organization affiliated with the U.S. Congress.

The gold medal requires 400 hours of voluntary public service, 200 hours of personal development, 200 hours of physical fitness, and a five-day exploration. Sclafani, a lifelong parishioner of St. Patrick Church in Baton Rouge, earned the bulk of his hours by volunteering at his church.

There, he volunteered with the Knights of Columbus and regularly served at the altar. He also helped the elderly members of his church community by doing household tasks that they were not able to perform.

A graduate of St. Michael High School in Baton Rouge, Sclafani is currently a sophomore studying political science and economics at the University of Notre Dame.