Ladera Ranch Students Earn Congressional Medal

By MAGGIE AVANTS (Patch Staff)

Seven students were recognized recently for going above and beyond in their contributions to their communities including one from San Juan Capistrano and three from Ladera Ranch.

U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, presented the Congressional Award for Public Service to the students during a ceremony at his North County San Diego office.

"Bar none, the best students in America come from right here in San Diego and Orange Counties," Issa said. "These young Americans have worked hard to better themselves, our community and everyone around them. I congratulate them on their tremendous achievements.”

The Congressional Award program for young Americans is voluntary and nonpartisan.

Participants of the 49th District program must reside in Carlsbad, Encinitas, Vista, Oceanside, Del Mar, Camp Pendleton, Solana Beach or Rancho Santa Fe in San Diego County, or San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano or Ladera Ranch in Orange County.

A gold, silver, or bronze medal is given to participants based on setting and accomplishing personal goals in the areas of volunteer public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition.

This year’s 49th District Congressional Award recipients were:

Gold medalist: Samuel “Bubba” Sugarman, Encinitas

Silver medalist: David Bao, Ladera Ranch

Bronze and silver medalist: Sarah Chen, Ladera Ranch

Bronze and silver medalist: Chris Jiang, Ladera Ranch

Bronze medalist: Luke Lindgren, Rancho Santa Fe

Bronze medalist: Kaily Johnson, San Juan Capistrano

Bronze medalist: Sissy Sugarman, Encinitas

(Pictured in the accompanying photo above, from left to right, are: Chris Jiang, Sarah Chen, David Bao, Congressman Issa, Sissy Sugarman, Samuel Sugarman. Not pictured: Kaily Johnson, Luke Lindgren)

Below is information provided by Issa’s office about the recipients and their personal challenges.

Gold medalist Samuel “Bubba” Sugarman lives in Encinitas and attends Oak Meadow High School. His advisor was Daniel Powell.

In earning his Congressional Award Gold Medal, Sam led introduced scouts and local school children to daily life on a farm and animals. Sam also taught blacksmithing classes at Escondido History Center. For his personal development, Sam spent many hours practicing his cello and learning more about classical music and composition. Sam improved his physical fitness through weekly surfing trips and by taking boxing lessons at a local gym. For his expedition, Sam traveled to Grenada to teach swimming lessons and help to rebuild a community center. Earning his Congressional Award Gold Medal was a huge accomplishment for Sam; it taught him patience, goal setting, and time management.

Silver medalist David Bao is from Ladera Ranch and attends Santa Margarita Catholic High School. His advisor was Hao Jiang.

To earn his Congressional Award Silver Medal, David volunteered to serve the underprivileged in his community as a tutor, poll worker, and volunteer for Lion’s Heart. For his personal development, David learned Mandarin Chinese. To complete his physical fitness goals, David swam with his club and high school team. David learned new techniques and improved his overall physicality in order to better compete in the pool. For his expedition, David traveled to Saguaro National Park in Arizona to better learn about the desert environment and wildlife.

Bronze and silver medalist Sarah Chen lives in Ladera Ranch and Orange County School of the Arts. Her advisor was Lisa Graves.

In earning her Congressional Award Bronze and Silver medals, Sarah volunteered nearly 100 hours of her time at the VA Medical Center in Long Beach. For her personal development, Sarah pursued singing and acting. Sarah practiced 30 minutes a day to improve her singing and reached the semifinals in a national classical singing competition. Sarah’s physical fitness goal was to learn to safely rock climb and repel. Sarah practiced on indoor and outdoor rock formations to refine her technique. For her expedition, Sarah traveled to Tucson, Arizona, to study mining, insects and the culture of the southwestern United States.

Bronze and silver medalist Chris Jiang lives in Ladera Ranch and attends Orange County School of the Arts. His advisor was Philip Gershon.

To earn bronze and silver, Chris served his community through volunteer work with his fellow Boy Scouts. Chris helped build trails in Trabuco Canyon and served veterans as a volunteer at the VA Medical Center in Long Beach. For his personal development, Chris learned about environmental science and future careers as an intern at the Ocean Institute. To complete his physical fitness goals, Chris practiced tennis. Chris has improved his serve, forehand and backhand in an effort to better compete with his high school team. For his expedition, Chris and his fellow scouts organized a backpacking trip to Inyo County. Chris used this trip as an opportunity to study mammals and indigenous plants in California.

Bronze medalist Luke Lindgren is from Rancho Sante Fe and attends Canyon Crest Academy. His advisor was Laurine Maldonado.

In earning his Congressional Award Bronze Medal, Luke volunteered nearly 100 hours with the Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve and Teen Volunteers in Action. Luke worked as a docent, introducing students to bugs, owls, and other wildlife. For his personal development, Luke competed in the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair. Luke’s project placed second in the environmental sciences category. For physical fitness, Luke earned his third-degree black belt in karate. For his expedition, Luke organized a trip to Boston to study historical sites and learn about the Revolutionary War.

Bronze medalist Kaily Johnson lives in San Juan Capistrano and attends San Juan Hills High School. Her advisor was Deborah Huebsch.

Kaily completed her voluntary public service by volunteering for over 100 hours teaching and helping mentally and physically disabled youth ride horses. Kaily’s personal development goal was to become more spiritual in Christian Science. She accomplished this by reading Christian Science lessons and articles and attended spiritual lectures. For physical fitness, Kaily went on 10-mile horse rides twice a week and on hikes and runs throughout the week in order to become a stronger horse rider and prepare for endurance riding. For her expedition/exploration, Kaily planned and prepared for a one-night camping trip with her family. She took charge in making reservations, planning meals and gathering the necessary supplies.

Bronze medalist Sissy Sugarman lives in Encinitas and attends The Liberty School at Sugar Sweet Farm. Her advisor was Marya Jefferson.

Sissy completed her voluntary public service by volunteering over 100 hours hosting local Girl Scout troops, community groups, classes and students at her farm to teach the community about where food comes from and how to properly treat animals. Sissy’s personal development goal was to improve her public speaking skills. She accomplished this by participating in local, regional and statewide speech competitions. Sissy also improved in her art and design skills by taking pottery and sewing classes. For physical fitness, Sissy frequently rode her horse and took lessons in order to improve her riding and horsemanship. For her expedition/exploration, Sissy planned and organized a campout with her horse and attended and competed in an international horse trial.

Earning the Congressional award is described as a fun and interesting way for youth to get more involved in something they already enjoy or something they’d like to try for the first time. Participants move at their own pace — on their own or with their friends. This is not an award for past accomplishments. Instead, youth are honored for achieving the challenging goals they set out for themselves after registering for the program.

The Congressional award has no minimum grade point average requirements. It accommodates young people with special needs or disabilities who are willing to take the challenge.