–by Sylvania AdVantage Staff
PUBLICATION DATE: Jan 23, 2019

Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) presented Sylvanian Karen Pan with a Congressional Award Silver Medal during an event at the Sylvania City Council Chamber. The Congressional Award was established by Congress in 1979 to recognize initiative, service, and achievement in young people. To earn the award, recipients must be between the ages of 13 ½ and 24, set goals in four program areas and meet specific benchmarks in pursuit of those goals. The areas are voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition/exploration.
Karen Pan, a graduate of Northview High School, completed the voluntary public service portion of the award by founding a music nonprofit, the Toledo Initiative for Musical collaBoration, Research, and Education. The nonprofit performs free music events for the community. Pan created pieces of music to perform at these events, fulfilling the personal development aspect. To accomplish the expedition/exploration portion, she took the nonprofit overseas to Vienna, Austria to perform at the Summa Cum Laude International Music Festival. She also participated in cheerleading at Sylvania Northview, which meets the physical fitness portion of the award. All Silver Medal winners must spend more than 400 hours over a minimum of 12 months to achieve the award.
Pan is currently a student at the University of Pennsylvania. “I commend Karen for her dedication, commitment, and initiative in achieving the Congressional Award Silver Medal,” said Latta.