Secaucus Teen Earns Congressional Award Gold Medal

SECAUCUS, NJ — A local Secaucus teen received a Congressional Award Gold Medal, which is Congress’ highest honor for youth in America.

Secaucus teen Jayden Altamura received the award. award. He's an Eagle Scout of Boy Scouts of America, past co-captain of the Secaucus High School swim team, and a member of Hygiene Project’s Student in Action (SIA) club: Secaucus Cares.

The Congressional awards recognize initiative, service and achievement in America’s youth. Any interested student, ages 13 through 23 years old, can apply. They have to show they achieved goals in four program areas: voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition/exploration.

Altamura completed the following:

• Packed thousands of hygiene kits for Hygiene Project
• Cleaned up Secaucus town parks
• Organized collection drives
• Served meals at homeless shelters
• Was president of the student-led SIA club, Secaucus Cares
• Is an Eagle Scout of Boy Scouts of America
• Past co-captain of the swim team at Secaucus High School
• He was also a member of the Secaucus Patriots boys' cross-country team; they congratulated him on the Congressional Award here.
• Participated in a 4-night, 5-day program in Panama in 2023 serving families and children in an indigenous village, and learning about their culture.

To earn the Gold Medal, each participant must complete at least 400 hours of voluntary public service, 200 hours of personal development, which can include developing social and life skills as well as interests, and 200 hours of physical fitness, spent in any way that improves their health and quality of life. Additionally, they must spend at least five days and four nights exploring a new environment or culture.