American Legion School Medal Program

Photo of School Medal

Youth are often awarded for their scholastic achievements, but The American Legion believes they should also be praised when they demonstrate strong qualities of character and good citizenship. That's why, since 1926, the Legion has recognized such students with its School Award Medal program. In 1921, the Department of Pennsylvania created the School Award Medal program for the purpose of instilling character and helping perpetuate the ideals of Americanism among youth. The award is given to a boy and a girl in the graduating classes of elementary school, junior and senior high school, and college. Those who receive a medal must exemplify six qualities that define character: courage, honor, leadership, patriotism, scholarship and service. Candidates for the award are voted upon by a school's faculty through a secret ballot casting. The local Legion post involved with the school makes the final selection upon receiving recommendation from students and faculty. Each awarded receives a certificate and a medal with the six qualities listed on the face of the medal, as the back bares the Marine Corps motto, “Semper Fidelis” (“always faithful”). The program's success for the past 90 years has been prominent. In its first year, 145 students received medals and in 2009, more than 30,000 were awarded medals.

Download a brochure on The American Legion School Award Medal program by clicking here.

Definition of the 6 Qualities that are looked for when choosing a winner.

Courage:
Bravery in the face of opposition and danger; determination and force to do right without public applause and regardless of personal advantage. A quality of the intellect.

Honor:
Highly-developed moral character; moral excellence; strength and stability of character; high standards of conduct; devotion to duty; adherence to truth; keen sense of what is right; practice of clean speech and thoughts.

Leadership:
Ability to lead and to accomplish through group action; ability to work in harmony and in unison with other leaders in accomplishing group results; desire and ability to fill the voids in the lives of others caused by timidity, illness and other handicaps.

patriotism:
An ideal of loyal Americanism, religious tolerance, righteous freedom and the willingness to defend our Flag against all enemies foreign and domestic. perhaps best defined in the American’s Creed.

Scholarship:
Attainments in school studies, quality of school work reflecting the fine traits of industry; perseverance efficiency and intelligence.

Service:
Kindliness; unselfishness; fellowship; protection of the weak; promotion of the interests and the welfare of associates, and, constructive aid for the up building of schools and of community.

Franklinton Post 52 - 2015 Medal Recipients

This year we expanded our program to include Middle School graduates, therefore, we presented medals to three young men as follows:

Cedar Creek Middle School 2015 Winner

Benjamin Hornyak and parents Joshua and Amie Hornyak

Benjamin Hornyak – Cedar Creek Middle School
2015 American Legion School Award Medal Recipient
with his father and mother Joshua and Amie Hornyak

Shown above is Benjamin Hornyak, this year's recipient of The American Legion School Award Medal from Cedar Creek Middle School. He was chosen by the faculty of Cedar Creek Middle School as the individual student who best exemplified all of the characteristics and qualities outlined in the program. Benjamin attended our July Ladies Night meeting to thank the membership for the award and showed all in attendance the certificate that accompanied the award.

Franklinton Middle School 2015 Winner

Nasean Taylor and mother Rhonda Taylor

Nasean Taylor – Franklinton Middle School
2015 American Legion School Award Medal Recipient
with his mother Rhonda Taylor

Shown above is Nasean Taylor, this year's recipient of The American Legion School Award Medal from Franklinton Middle School. He was chosen by the faculty of Franklinton Middle School as the individual student who best exemplified all of the characteristics and qualities outlined in the program. Nasean and his mother Rhoda attended our July Ladies Night meeting to thank the membership for the award he received.

Franklinton High School 2015 Winner

William and Jennifer Harris

William Harris – Franklinton High School
2015 American Legion School Award Medal Recipient
with his mother Jennifer Harris

Shown above is William Harris, this year's recipient of The American Legion School Award Medal from Franklinton High School. He was chosen by the faculty of Franklinton High School as the individual student who best exemplified all of the characteristics and qualities outlined in the program. Due to other commitments William was not able to attend the school awards program, in early June, so he was surprised to learn that he had won an award. William attended our June meeting to thank the membership for the award and showed all in attendance the certificate that accompanied the award. William will be attending Capitol Technology University in Laurel, Maryland, starting in July, so he therefore will be unable to attend our Ladies Night Meeting with the other students who attended Girls State and Boys State. We wish him the best in all his future endeavors.

Click below to see previous winners:

2014 School Medal Award Winner