Two La Costa Canyon High School standouts were recently recognized for earning the Congressional Award Gold Medal, the highest honor Congress gives to young Americans for achievements in community service and personal development. Gold medalists Miles Yui and Elizabeth Christensen, both rising seniors in the class of 2027 at LCC, traveled to Washington D.C. for the Congressional Award Gold Medal Summit on June 8–10.
The summit included an award ceremony, panel discussions, a tour of the U.S. Capitol, a chance to meet with state representatives such as Congressman Mike Levin and Senator Alex Padilla, and attend the 2026 Congressional Baseball Game.
“This year’s Gold Medalists represent the very best of what young people can accomplish when they set meaningful goals and commit themselves to service, growth and exploration,” said Erica Heyse, national director of The Congressional Award in a press release of the 877 young Americans recognized this year. “The Summit gives us the opportunity not only to celebrate what they have achieved, but also to remind them that this medal is a foundation for a lifetime of leadership, civic engagement and impact.”
To earn the gold medal, candidates must rack up 400 hours of voluntary public service, 200 hours of personal development, 200 hours of physical fitness, and complete an expedition or exploration.
Miles Yui at the capitol for the Congressional Award Gold Medal Summit. (Rassi G. Borneo)
Miles Yui
Miles, 17, fulfilled his community service requirements in several ways, through his service on the Encinitas Youth Commission and volunteerism with the Encinitas Library, Boost Program Encinitas, Athletes for Hope and his own nonprofit, Opportunity Athletics.
Miles founded Opportunity Athletics (opportunityathletics.org) in September 2025, dedicated to collecting gently used athletic gear and distributing it to underprivileged athletes in need in San Diego.
“Throughout my entire childhood I played baseball and it’s been such an important aspect of my life and taught me so much,” said Miles, an infielder on the LCC baseball team who has also played for the Encinitas Edge and SoCal Redbirds. “Some kids are unable to play sports due to financial challenges so I really wanted all kids to be able to play.”
Since the fall, he’s collected over 2,000 pieces of sports gear and partnered with businesses such as 1-800-Got-Junk and AllyWaste to meet his mission of getting equipment into the hands of the young athletes that need it. He’s held events at the YMCA and Boys & Girls Club where kids can come and grab gear.
For the last two years, Miles has served on the Encinitas Youth Commission. One of the things he focused on this year was helping to organize a financial literacy seminar for local high school students, with speakers teaching youth how to save, invest and use their money responsibly. He also helped plan an event last month in partnership with the Kevin Love Fund for mental health awareness with fellow Youth Commissioner Quade Kelley, a San Dieguito Academy student and 2025 Congressional Award Gold Medal winner. The event included activities and a screening of the movie “GOAT: Beyond the Game”.
Miles’ Gold Award recognizes his time spent playing guitar with a band, playing baseball on his high school and travel teams and his expedition, planning a multi-day trip to Japan.
“I was proud of all the work I put into it, it’s a testament to all I had completed,” Miles said of earning the recognition.
The trip to D.C. was a great opportunity and he enjoyed meeting with Rep. Levin, who answered all of his questions about leadership, as well as connecting with the other Gold Award winners from across the country including Elizabeth, his LCC classmate and fellow Encinitas Youth Commissioner.
“Getting to meet all the other kids who have done the same program and who are also driven to give back was amazing,” he said. “It gives me inspiration to take back to the Encinitas Youth Commission and help guide the commission to accomplish more.”
Continuing on with his personal development, this summer Miles will also be attending the Yale Young Global Scholars program, studying politics, law and economics.
La Costa Canyon’s Elizabeth Christensen in Washington D.C. for the Congressional Award Gold Medal Summit. (Courtesy Elizabeth Christensen)
Elizabeth Christensen
Like Miles, Elizabeth has served on Encinitas Youth Commission for two years and was recently reappointed to serve for the 2026–27 term. In addition to volunteering at the city’s Cyclovia and Arbor Day events, her personal mission has been to establish Art Socials as a city activity. Already she has hosted two events this year at the Pacific View Art Center, bringing seniors, youth and families together around creating art.
In addition to being able to paint using donated canvases and supplies, the goal of the Art Social is to reduce isolation, broaden people’s social circles and provide a fun form of community bonding.
“We stress the importance of intergenerational Art Socials. It’s very common for older people to feel less involved in the community and we want to make sure they still feel important, seen and that someone knows them and cares for them,” said Elizabeth, who will turn 17 at the end of July. “It also helps teenagers who feel isolated…Personally it’s helped me feel more sociable and to be able to go up to somebody and be able to offer my help or say hi and introduce myself.”
Elizabeth is also the president and co-founder of Striving to Serve Others, a youth-led nonprofit that she and her brother Michael (a LCC alum and also a past Congressional Gold Award winner) started in 2023. The nonprofit promotes service and civic engagement, teaching young people how to identify community needs, build partnerships, organize projects and lead positive change.
Elizabeth has been a dancer since she was a little girl but as a sophomore found a passion for the Color Guard—she just wrapped up her second season and this year served as the team captain. She also plays the sousaphone and tuba and this coming school year she will be the first-ever female drum major of the Maverick Brigade, the only marching band in the San Dieguito Union High School District.
For her Gold Medal expedition, she spent time doing virtual tours of San Diego landmarks like the USS Midway Museum, Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá, the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, and completed a documentary review of Kumeyaay history and coastal conversation.
Looking ahead, Elizabeth’s goals are to grow Art Socials even more in the city, envisioning it as a bi-monthly or monthly activity, and to continue with community service, “trying to help people where I can and when I can.”
“Whenever I serve people….It makes me feel fulfilled with so much pride and joy,” Elizabeth said. “You know what you’re doing has a meaning, and, most of the time, the people are so grateful. To help someone and give a meaning to your life is honestly everything to me.”