A high school senior from Irving has received one of the nation’s top youth honors.
Kristin Joseph, a senior at Great Hearts Irving Upper School, was recently awarded the Congressional Award Gold Medal, the highest civilian youth award presented by the U.S. Congress. The recognition honors young people who demonstrate initiative, service, and personal growth across four areas: Voluntary Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration.
To earn the Gold Medal, participants must commit at least 400 hours of community service, 200 hours each of personal development and physical fitness, and complete a multi-day exploration experience. Kristin not only met but exceeded those requirements.
She dedicated 441 hours to service through Horizon Prep, a tuition-free program she founded to support middle school students with tutoring, life skills workshops, and mentoring. “Launching Horizon Prep has been the most rewarding part of my journey,” she said. “I developed workshops on study strategies and communication, but what mattered most was building relationships and helping students see their potential.”
For personal development, Kristin logged 337 hours through leadership roles. She served on the Junior Executive Committee of the Arborlea High School Leadership Program, helped run her school’s Senate, and mentored with Girls Clubs of North Texas. “Through service, I grew as a leader,” she explained. “I learned how to communicate vision, motivate others, and step into roles that stretched me outside my comfort zone.”
She also completed 219 hours of physical fitness, running about seven miles a week to stay active and balanced. Her exploration experience took her to Washington, D.C., where she learned about the history of museums and landmarks.
Reflecting on the recognition, Kristin shared:
“I am so thankful to receive the Congressional Medal! I am especially grateful to my family for all the support they’ve given me along the way. Their example and guidance was crucial to helping me develop the fortitude, responsibility, and heart for service that helped me earn the Medal.”
As for what comes next, Kristin says her experience has shaped her career goals.
“Through launching Horizon Prep, I witnessed how business has the potential to create lasting change by meeting real community needs. In college, I plan to major in business to develop a deeper understanding of management, strategy, and how to drive innovation. My long-term goal is to launch an initiative that equips underprivileged students to flourish academically and beyond.”
Great Hearts Irving Upper, located on World Cup Way in North Irving, serves 758 students in grades 6–12.
