Wittman honors Glen Allen student who earned Congressional Gold Medal Award
U.S. Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA-01) recently honored Glen Allen student Sanaya Bothra, a winner of the 2026 Congressional Gold Medal Award.
The Congressional Award is the highest award for America’s youth presented by the United States Congress; participants can earn bronze, silver, or gold medals through the program, which aims to acknowledge set and completed goals in voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness, and expedition/exploration.
“It was my privilege to meet and congratulate Sanaya Bothra on her outstanding achievement,” said Wittman. “Ms. Bothra spent over 400 hours teaching science, technology, engineering, and math to underprivileged children and those with autism, over two hundred hours conducting scientific research — resulting in two published papers, over two hundred hours doing physical fitness activities, and twelve days on a trip she organized to Norway, Austria, Prague, and Budapest. Her commitment to giving back to our community is truly remarkable, and I was honored to celebrate this achievement with her.”
The Congressional Award is designed in part to encourage young Americans to become active and responsible citizens. The program is run by the Congressional Award Foundation.
“Participating in The Congressional Award broadened my perspective beyond academics and school activities,” Bothra said. “It encouraged me to be a strong leader and pursue work that meaningfully impacts my community, fostering a stronger sense of pride and connection to the place where I live. The program also taught me how to set clear goals and work toward them with discipline and purpose. By dedicating consistent time to these goals, I have grown in self-development, learning to take ownership & accountability.”
