Christian Brothers Academy junior Aedan Moran has met the challenge of the United States Congress.

It was announced last week that Moran earned the Congressional Award Bronze Medal, which is achieved through challenging personal benchmarks in service, fitness and personal development.

To earn the medal, Moran completed over 100 hours of voluntary public service, 50 hours of personal development, 50 hours of physical fitness, and two days and one night of expedition in a new environment. Moran completed this challenge in seven months, the minimum time frame needed to earn the medal.

“Earning the Congressional Award has been an honor and a rewarding experience,” Moran said. “I have learned the importance of making a significant impact on the community at large. Winning the award has taught me how applicable both CBA and Lasallian values are, and how they empower and enable us to make lasting differences that positively affect the greater community.”

For his service component, Moran was highly involved in the service work done at the Academy. He has taken the Lasallian Youth trips to Asbury Park to feed the hungry, worked in the Lunchbreak kitchen in Red Bank, and spent time at De La Salle Hall on campus, the retirement home for Brothers.

His personal development consisted of proudly serving as Troop 31’s Senior Patrol Leader of the Boy Scouts of America. Moran led a two-day camping expedition in Valley Forge, PA, where he was in-charge of 15 scouts during the trip.

Moran fulfilled his physical fitness requirement as a letter winner on the CBA varsity sailing team, including practices and regattas during the fall and spring seasons, as well as winter team workouts in the CBA fitness center.

He is also a member of the CBA Pipes & Drums Band, a Liturgical minister of hospitality and lector, FBLA and Fed Challenge member, and a Student Council representative.

Established to law in 1979, the Congressional Award was created to honor, encourage, and inspire America’s youth. Through the award, Congress urges young people to challenge themselves outside of their every day life.