Coeur d'Alene High student earns Congressional Award Gold Medal

Idaho Congressman Russ Fulcher presented Coeur d'Alene High School student Kyle Rohlinger with the Congressional Award Gold Medal, a national honor the program describes as Congress' highest for youth. Rohlinger was one of 877 young Americans recognized in the 2026 Gold Medal Class, placing a North Idaho student among a small group celebrated on a national stage.

The medal reflects more than a single achievement. The Congressional Award requires sustained effort in voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition, and Rohlinger said the work across those areas made him a more well-rounded person. He said the experience taught him the value of dedication and consistency and helped him improve different parts of his life, turning the medal into a record of years of follow-through rather than a ceremonial stop.

Rohlinger attended the Gold Medal Summit from June 8-10 in Washington, D.C., where medalists took part in congressional meetings, leadership programming and recognition at the U.S. Capitol. The summit put the class face-to-face with 193 members of the House and Senate, giving young people who had completed the program a chance to speak directly with lawmakers about the service and growth behind the honor. The Congressional Award said the 2026 class was larger than the 2025 summit, which honored 766 youth from 37 states.

For Kootenai County, Rohlinger’s award shows a concrete path from a local high school to national recognition. He had already earned the Congressional Award Silver Medal in 2024 in Boise, a sign that his Gold Medal came through a multi-year progression rather than a one-time application. The program is non-partisan, voluntary and non-competitive, and students can begin at 13 and a half and must finish before age 24, giving North Idaho teens a clear route to build a resume around service, fitness, skill-building and exploration.

The Congressional Award was established by Public Law 96-114 on Nov. 16, 1979, and its annual Gold Medal celebration in Washington puts families, peers and civic leaders in the same room as the nation’s top youth honorees. For Coeur d'Alene High School, Rohlinger’s medal adds a national example of what long-term discipline can look like when a student sticks with the work year after year.