Owatonna teen receives congressional award medal on Owatonna

OWATONNA — Seventeen-year old Jeremy Duruji is usually not one to toot his own horn, especially when it comes to community service work.

Duruji, a junior at Owatonna High School, has been volunteering since age 13 while living in Ketchikan, Alaska. During that time, he’s helped organize community book fairs, raise awareness about colon cancer and run scoreboards during athletic events.

And when his family moved to Owatonna in 2006, Duruji continued serving the community by assisting the Awanas at Grace Baptist Church. He also helps with youth wrestling and is a member of the Owatonna High School student council.

For his services, along with his athletic aspirations, Duruji was awarded the Congressional Award Bronze Medal by Congressman Tim Walz Friday at Owatonna High School.

“I’m very excited and honored to be the recipient of this award,” Duruji said.

The award comes from the Congressional Award Program, to promote people between the ages of 14 and 23 to “promote initiative, achievement and excellence,” according to the Web site of the Congressional Gold Medal.

In order to earn the award, one must set goals in four program areas: voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition.

Walz said it was an honor for him to present the award and encouraged Duruji’s peers to consider community service as a way to serve their country.

“It’s hard to fit them in, but they’re critically important,” he said.

Duruji said he learned about the program from his mother while they were living in Alaska and was encouraged to participate. He thought it would be a great way to help him move on and become successful.

So, he performed more than 200 hours of voluntary public service by playing the piano at a senior center and tutoring elementary school students.

For personal development, he worked part-time delivering newspapers while training to be on the track team.

Duruji completed his goal in physical fitness by increasing his weight lifting and continuous running time to earn a starting position on the track team. He is also a letter winner in track and wrestling and is a two-time all-academic recipient.

He completed his expediation goal by learning how to camp overnight in the Arctic of Alaska. To do so, he composed an itinerary of events and prepared all of the necessary supplies to make the expedition successful.

“This was really hard for him, being the center of attention,” said Sonja Duruji, his mother.

Duruji hopes to attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., after high school.

Jeff Cagle can be reached at 444-2378.

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Member Opinions: By: onevoice on 12/20/08 Well done, you are to be commended, as is your family for supporting and encouraging you. Strive on:)
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