[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 80 (Wednesday, June 22, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                       TRIBUTE TO LATONYA GRIFFIN

                                 ______


                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 22, 1994

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce an outstanding 
program called Beat the Odds, which is sponsored by the Children's 
Defense Fund and Project Kids, Inc., to the U.S. Congress.
  Beat the Odds celebrations strike a chord with community leaders and 
citizens who want to help children struggling to achieve their academic 
desires. Corporations donate prizes for nominees, educators work to 
nominate the exceptional students, and the media embrace the Beat the 
Odds concept with wide-ranging coverage. Beat the Odds has fostered 
successes in many, hard-working, outstanding students.
  This Friday, June 24, 1994, I will have the opportunity to host the 
first East St. Louis Beat the Odds ceremonies at the Adams Mark Hotel 
in St. Louis, MO. LaTonya Griffin is 1 of 5 distinguished students from 
East St. Louis, IL, that I will be honoring at this great celebration.
  For 17 years of her life, LaTonya has been in foster care. She has 
resided in 10 different homes and attended 9 different schools. During 
high school, LaTonya has had to work to provide herself with the basic 
necessities of life. Working as many as 40 hours a week at two part-
time jobs, LaTonya's graduation from East St. Louis High School can 
certainly be seen as a great achievement.
  LaTonya plans to attend the Missouri School for Doctors and Medical 
Assistants in the fall of this year, as her long-term goal is to enter 
the health care profession. LaTonya should certainly be proud of her 
accomplishments.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that today I be given this 
opportunity to commend LaTonya for her outstanding achievements in this 
great body. I am certainly honored, and looking forward, to present 
LaTonya with a scholarship at the first East St. Louis Beat the Odds 
awards celebration.

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