Vance has
Gold Medal
in sight

Lenoir-Rhyne College women’s soccer player Diana Vance is more than three-quarters of the way home to one the nation’s most prestigious awards, the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor. And, the way she is working, it is entirely possible that the senior from Stuart, Fla., could finish the award requirements as early as this summer.

Vance first heard about the Congressional Medal of Honor three-level program when she was in high school. Her school counselor, who was involved in the program, believed Vance would be a good candidate.

It turned out she was. "When I heard about the program, I thought it would be a good way to get involved helping other people," she said.

Vance earned her bronze medal while a freshman in high school and the silver medal in her junior year. It was an exciting time for her as her accomplishments led to recognition from her community and, also, gained her a much-envied private audience with Prince Phillip of Wales at the World Royal Gala in West Palm Beach, Fla. Prince Phillip, she explained, is a big supporter of the program.

With two of the three steps behind her, Vance began developing her program to earn her gold medal in the fall semester of her sophomore year at Lenoir-Rhyne. She submitted her plan to the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor committee and, after several months, her program was approved in July 1998. Now, it was time to go to work.

There are four program areas in which gold medal seekers must perform a minimum amount of hours, with validation, to receive the gold medal: voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and a choice of expedition or exploration. The criteria for the gold level includes a minimum age (18), and the performance of 400 hours of voluntary public service, with 200 hours each in personal development and physical fitness, and 40 hours of expedition/exploration over a minimum of a two-year period.

"I wanted to go for the gold medal because I wanted to finish something I started back in high school," Vance said. "Also," she admits, "it would be nice to be recognized by the U.S. Congress. It would show hard work does pay off." The award is presented at an annual United States Congress ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Fortunately, her personal development qualifications fell under her part-time job at Lenoir-Rhyne. During the past three years, Vance worked in the Annual Fund office, where her responsibilities included phone calling and bulk mailings. She has also helped out in the Planned Giving Office and the President’s Office. As a result, her 200 hours for the award were completed in just one year.

Two of the other areas -- physical fitness and expedition/exploration -- she wrapped up also in just one year. As a member of L-R’s soccer team, her physical fitness requirements were easily obtained because of the numerous hours of practice, matches and conditioning that were required of her as part of the team. In addition to soccer, Vance also enjoys running and racquetball.

Vance elected to take the expedition route for the third part of the program. During the semester break in 1998, she participated in a trip to Myakka State Park near Sarasota, Fla., which included camping, canoeing, hiking and a visit to the historic area of downtown Sarasota.

The only program area she has yet to finish is volunteer public service. There was just so much the active senior (who is expected to graduate in May with a degree in business administration) could fit into her busy schedule. However, with the other requirements now completed, she was able to begin work on the final area this fall.

During the 1999 semester break, Vance volunteered at the West Palm Beach (Fla.) Veteran Affairs Medical Center, where her mother works. She was familiar with the Center having worked in several departments such as physical therapy, occupational therapy and office work, while working towards her bronze and silver medals. To gain hours while on campus this spring, Vance is volunteering at Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory.

Vance believes the gold medal program has a lot of potential for growth throughout the country. "Not many states have this program, and it is really good for kids," she said. "It keeps them out of trouble; they get medals, and (if they go all the way through the program) could possibly meet the vice president of the United States. I just wish more states would get into it."

If, and when, Vance does receive the gold medal, her contribution to the program won’t stop. "I have been asked to be an advisor or validator to the program, and that’s fine with me," she said.

Dr. Jane Jenkins, athletics director and chair of Lenoir-Rhyne’s Healthful Living and Sports Studies Program and Vance’s advisor on her gold medal program, also sees rewards from the program. "This is the kind of well-rounded effort we like to see from our student-athletes," said Jenkins. "It benefits everyone involved."

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