Gabbard Presented with Kennedy New Frontier Award

US Rep. Tulsi Gabbard today was the recipient of a 2013 John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award at a ceremony at the Institute of Politics at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in Washington DC.

The award from the institute and the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation each year honors two Americans under 40 who provide a positive influence on their community and country in the spirit of John F. Kennedy.

One of the two annual New Frontier Awards honors an elected official whose work demonstrates the importance of elective service as a way to address a public challenge or challenges. This award, called the Fenn Award, is presented in honor of Dan Fenn, the Kennedy Library’s first director and a former member of President Kennedy’s staff.

Gabbard, one of the first two female combat veterans to serve in Congress who is known for her efforts on behalf of veterans, is this year’s recipient of the Fenn Award.

“It is truly humbling to receive this honor, as the message and example of servant leadership set by President Kennedy is one I hold close and which continues to inspire me and an entire generation,” Gabbard said.

“As we reflect on President Kennedy’s call to service, we understand his indelible mark on the American people, past, present and future, and will forever remember his dedication to public service and working for the greater good,” she said in a statement. “I will continue to strive to uphold his example of servant leadership and honor his life and sacrifice in my service to the people of Hawai‘i and our nation.”

The second John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award was given to Charles Best, founder and CEO of DonorsChoose.org, an online charity that enables individuals to provide direct support to teachers and students in public schools.

The New Frontier Awards are named after the challenge to Americans in President Kennedy’s acceptance speech to the Democratic National Convention on July 15, 1960.