[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 87 (Friday, July 1, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 1, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              TRIBUTE TO MINNESOTA STUDENT GOING TO JAPAN

 Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, today I would like to offer my 
congratulations to Amber Hojstad, who will be a junior at Champlin Park 
High School in Champlin, MN. Recently, I recommended Amber to 
participate in Sony Electronics Inc.'s Student Project Abroad. I am 
proud to announce that Amber has been accepted for the program. She 
will spend 2 weeks in Japan studying advanced technology and the 
Japanese culture with Sony's Student Project Abroad.
  As most of my colleagues know, I was a professor at Carlton College 
before being elected to the U.S. Senate. While at Carlton College, I 
encouraged students to combine their classroom work with real world 
experience gained outside the confines of the classroom. I felt that if 
students took the initiative and explored ways to apply their classroom 
instruction, they would be better prepared to enter the work force than 
those who restricted studies solely to their textbooks. It is for this 
reason that I was particularly pleased to have the opportunity to 
nominate Amber to the SSPA program. It is another example of better 
preparing our students for the challenges of an increasingly 
competitive interdependent world.
  Amber is ranked 14th in a class of over 500 students and has 
maintained a straight A average. In addition to her academic studies, 
Amber is involved in the marching band and the swim and ski teams; she 
is active with her church and in her community; and she participated at 
the Minnesota Academy of Science State Fair 2 years in a row.
  Amber's teachers say she exemplifies the best in scholarship, self-
discipline, character and persistence, and I believe she will represent 
Minnesota and the United States very proudly in Japan.
  The Sony Student Project Abroad is a 2-week program for American high 
school students who have a keen interest and ability in science and 
mathematics. The program features tours of manufacturing facilities, 
presentations on design and engineering, visits to historical and 
cultural points of interest, and a home-stay with a Japanese host 
family.
  Amber will have the opportunity to travel to Japan with the Sony 
Student Project Abroad. Some 200 from all over the United States have 
already reaped the benefits of this extraordinary education experience. 
The program encourages the pursuit of study in science and math, areas 
which are critical to America's competitive future. The program also 
introduces American teenagers to the culture and people of Japan, one 
of our leading trade partners.
  The United States and Japan have an increasing need and desire to 
broaden the experiences of their young people. Sony's Student Project 
Abroad opens these students' eyes to the unlimited possibilities of 
applying math and science. It also allows American students to 
experience, firsthand, Japanese culture.
  Mr. President, I believe this is a wonderful learning opportunity for 
Amber and for the other students, and I commend Sony for its 
efforts.

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