[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 LA TOSHA MAGGARD

                                 ______


                         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. La Tosha Maggard is one of five distinguished 
students from East St. Louis, IL, that I will be honoring at this great 
celebration.
  Having been plagued by alcohol abuse and financial difficulties, it 
was an extreme achievement for La Tosha to have been one of the many 
recent graduates of East St. Louis High School this past spring. During 
her senior year, La Tosha was president of the Math Society and tutored 
junior high students in mathematics. Upon graduation La Tosha's 
achievements included: Maintaining a 3.8 grade point average, 
membership in the principal's Scholars Program and membership in the 
Honors Seminar.
  La Tosha plans to attend Western Illinois University in the fall 
where she plans to major in either nursing or education. As a volunteer 
at a local nursing home, La Tosha says that she would like to help the 
unfortunate much in the same way as others have helped her.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that today I be given this 
opportunity to commend La Tosha for her outstanding achievements in 
this great body. I am certainly honored, and looking forward, to 
present La Tosha with a scholarship at the first East St. Louis Beat 
the Odds awards celebration.

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