[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 8, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E553]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 SALUTING THOMAS JOE HARRIS OF THE WOODLANDS, TX--WESTINGHOUSE SCIENCE 
                         TALENT SEARCH FINALIST

                                 ______


                            HON. JACK FIELDS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 8, 1995
  Mr. FIELDS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this evening, I will have the 
privilege of meeting a constituent--Thomas Joe Harris of The Woodlands, 
TX--who is a finalist in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search 
competition. At a time when too few young people use their high school 
years to explore the world around them, Thomas Harris is an exception--
and has proven himself to be a young man of exceptional intelligence 
and potential.
  Thomas is the son of Jeff and Aletha Harris of Falling Start Court in 
The Woodlands.
  The Westinghouse Science Talent Search brings together the brightest, 
most creative science students from across the country. Each talent 
search hopeful is required to submit a written description of the 
student's research, plus a completed entry form that is designed to 
measure a student's creativity and interest in science.
  Many of our Nation's top scientists and mathematicians share the 
common bond of having participated in the talent search when they were 
students. The 54th annual Westinghouse Science Talent Search caps more 
than a half century of remarkable achievements by more than 1,500 
semifinalists and 2,000 finalists who have participated in this, 
America's most highly regarded precollege science competition.
  In his science project, Thomas looked at ways to increase the 
population of red-cockaded woodpeckers--an endangered species. Thomas 
studied the red-cockaded woodpecker's feeding habits and determined 
whether or not the birds would accept artificial nests in established 
colonies.
  As a result of his innovative research, Thomas concluded that 
protecting the birds' specialized feeding niche in older pine forests, 
as well as private property owners providing artificial nests on their 
land, are essential for the survival of the red-cockaded woodpecker.
  Thomas attends the Academy of Science and Technology in Conroe, where 
he is student council president and a member of the math club. 
Additionally, he is an environmental speaker for the Boy Scouts, and a 
basketball coach for the YMCA youth league.
  First-place winner in a dozen science competitions, Thomas also has 
won the U.S. Navy Honors Academic Award and was an invited guest at the 
Texas Endangered Species and Wildlife Conference.
  Mr. Speaker, I know you agree that Thomas Joe Harris personifies the 
qualities we all seek in our high school students: a thirst for 
knowledge, an interest in science, and an eagerness to learn new ways 
to solve old problems. In this age of high-technology and nonstop 
scientific advances, the United States will need the skills and 
imagination of Thomas Joe Harris--and the other Westinghouse Science 
Talent Search finalists--if we are to remain the most advanced nation 
in environmental research and other sciences. And I know you also join 
with me in congratulating this remarkable young man on being named a 
finalist in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search.


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