Last summer, 17-year-old Kit Washut traded seeing Wyoming antelope for seeing Australian kangaroos.

"Australia was awesome," the Casper native said. "I loved it over there."

The trip helped earn Kit, who will be a sophomore at Casper College this fall, the silver Congressional Medal Award. Sen. John Barrasso presented Kit with her medal on Tuesday.

Kit decided to pursue a medal after a friend from Cheyenne told her about the program.

"I was looking at all the stuff I was doing anyway and thought, 'Why not?' " she said.

Congressional Awards are earned by completing projects in four areas-exploration/expedition, personal development, physical fitness and voluntary public service. Students keep a record book of the activities they complete and the time spent on each.

Kit volunteered with the Musikgarten program and also organized a car wash to benefit a local crisis pregnancy center. She also learned to play harp, and learned about handling Celiac disease, which she was diagnosed with some time ago.

Her Australian trip fulfilled the exploration/expedition requirements for the medal.

Currently, Kit plays piano for various nursing homes and assisted living residences and is taking flute lessons to further her study of the instrument. Kit is also helping plan a Youth Service Retreat in Casper.

"She's done marvelous things," Barrasso said.

The Congressional Award was established by Congress in 1979 to recognize initiative, achievement and service in young people. The original bill was sponsored by Sen. Malcolm Wallop of Wyoming and the late Congressman James Howard of New Jersey.

Presidents Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush have all signed continuing legislation to keep the program around.

Bronze, silver and gold Congressional Awards are presented to students every year. The program is open to students ages 14 to 23.

"This is a terrific program," Barrasso said. "We're hoping to get more and more students in Natrona County involved.

Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at jasa.santos@trib.com. Read her education blog at tribtown.trib.com/JasaSantos/blog.