[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 101 (Tuesday, June 20, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1298]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



[[Page E 1298]]

              PRAISE FOR RALEIGH COUNTY VOCATIONAL CENTER

                                 ______


                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 20, 1995
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to your attention the 
outstanding work of a fine group of students and teachers from the 
Raleigh County Vocational Technical Center in West Virginia's Third 
Congressional District. More than 100 young people from classes as 
diverse as electronics technology to marketing education to computer-
aided graphing have come together in a project that has involved 
virtually the entire school. The culminating project has been the 
``Electrosprint'': a state-of-the-art electric car which has been the 
subject of a great deal of attention.
  The students have been recognized by the environmental program ``A 
Pledge and A Promise'' by Anheuser-Busch Theme Park from among 600 
entries nationwide and are recipients of the $12,500 first place award. 
The car was awarded first place in the efficiency event at the EV Grand 
Prix. It has the distinction of being the most efficient car ever 
tested by Argonne National Laboratories in the United States, where one 
official noted, ``[t]he car is as efficient as anything built by 
professional automakers . . .'' It also won the West Virginia 
Vocational Association Award of Merit for Innovative Program and was 
named the American Vocational Association Innovative Program for Region 
I. They have been featured on national television for their 
enterprising and innovative ideas.
  The Electrosprint project has had remarkable results. Sparking the 
interest of students and increasing enrollment at the vocational 
school; exciting people of all ages about science, math, and the 
environment; and boosting self-esteem and reinforcing a positive image 
of education in southern West Virginia are only a few of the beneficial 
effects of this venture.
  Serious about environmental concerns and efficiency, and learning 
firsthand about how to work as a team, these students deserve to be 
commended as a model not only for other students, but for all of us. 
Their work on electrically powered transportation should inspire others 
in the field and everyone who is concerned with protecting our 
environment. They are not satisfied with only a passive role in their 
own education; instead, they are learning through experience how to 
harness technology in a way that will have a visible impact on the 
world around them. These are essential skills and qualities as we enter 
the 21st century.
  The students' next project will be to draw from their previous work, 
transplanting the technology they have already developed to electric 
powered delivery vehicles for use in inner cities. Future plans also 
include testing vehicles on hilly terrain, expanding the use of 
alternative fuels such as solar, wind, and natural gas, and further 
developing safety equipment for electric cars with the possibility of 
patenting. We should encourage such initiative and hard work.
  I am extremely proud of the students at Raleigh County Vocational 
Technical Center and encourage them in their future challenges. I also 
want to thank and congratulate their teachers, parents, and community 
for supporting the superb efforts of the next generation.


                          ____________________