[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 47 (Tuesday, April 26, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 26, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
            TRIBUTE TO TAFT HIGH SCHOOL, WOODLAND HILLS, CA

                                 ______


                       HON. ANTHONY C. BEILENSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 26, 1994

  Mr. BEILENSON. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of myself and my constituents 
in California's 24th Congressional District, I am honored to call my 
colleagues' attention to the achievement of Taft High School of 
Woodland Hills, CA. This month, for the second time in 5 years, Taft 
won the national championship of the U.S. Academic Decathlon, the 
``Super Bowl'' of secondary-school academics. The nine-member team 
recorded the highest score in the 13-year history of the event, as well 
as the highest individual score, and won the more than half of the 
$30,000 in scholarships awarded to individual students.
  The team members, who claimed five of nine awards for individual high 
scores, included: top student, Daniel Bedichevsky, 17; Chris Huie, 17; 
Michael Michrowski, 17; Sheldon Peregrino, 18; Rebecca Rissman, 17; 
Andrew Salter, 17; Kimberly Shapiro, 16; Stephen Shaw, 16; and Sage 
Vaughn, 17;
  These nine high school students and their academic coach, Arthur 
Berchin, began preparing for the decathlon last summer. After competing 
with classmates for a place on the Taft team, the students took 
practice tests every day after school and studied over weekends and 
holidays, even after the January 17th earthquake damaged their homes 
and school.
  In March Taft defeated 42 California public and private schools to 
place first in the State, and the team went on to the national match, 
competing against 41 States and the District of Columbia in 10 events, 
including math, fine arts, economics, science, and literature. The 
competition also included a gameshow style super quiz that tested 
students' knowledge of 19 important documents, such as the Camp David 
accords.
  I congratulate the team members, their coach, Arthur Berchin, and the 
Taft faculty and student body for this very special achievement. Their 
high level of excellence--especially in the face of both today's tight 
school budgets and the often unfair criticism of our schools and 
students--shows what can be accomplished through dedication and hard 
work. Taft continues to be a credit to our city and a role model for 
other schools to follow.
  I am enormously proud to be able to bring Taft's outstanding 
achievement to the attention of the Members of the U.S. Congress.

                          ____________________