[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 64 (Thursday, May 9, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E748]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATIONS VENICE HIGH STUDENTS ON NATIONAL SCIENCE BOWL VICTORY

                                 ______


                            HON. JANE HARMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 8, 1996

  Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, as a kindergarten-through-high school 
graduate of the Los Angeles Unified School District, I am particularly 
proud to congratulate five LA Unified students from my district who 
recently won the prestigious National Science Bowl contest.
  Noah Bray-Ali, David Dickinson, Le My Hoang, Candice Kamachi, and 
Christopher Mayor, all students at Venice High School, claimed a first 
place victory earlier this month in this contest, which tests students' 
knowledge of computer science, biology, physics, chemistry, and other 
topics in a grueling 2 day competition. The contest is sponsored by the 
U.S. Department of Energy.
  As a member of both the Science and National Security Committees of 
the House, I have a keen appreciation for the value of science 
education. It is clear from the hearings these committees convene on 
the challenges facing our Nation in the 21st century that our future 
economic prosperity and security depend on cutting-edge scientific 
advancements. And, in order to make those advancements, we need to 
continue to teach and train students who will become our future 
scientists and engineers. I am pleased that Venice High and other 
schools in LA Unified are prepared to fill that need.
  The Venice High students faced many obstacles in their way to 
victory. They competed against 54 other high schools from around the 
Nation representing 39 different States. Most amazingly, they 
successfully competed even though they started their school year 
without a physics teacher and had to rely on self-discipline and the 
help of a substitute teacher for the first few months of the school 
year.
  In addition, these students faced many of the challenges students 
everywhere face as a result of dwindling resources and the sometimes 
dangerous atmosphere that students encounter on their way to school. 
Venice High has, in recent years, experienced problems with gang 
violence, but with strong support from family and teachers, the 
students have been able to pursue their goal of academic excellence.
  I also wish to congratulate Coach Richard Erdman, and Walter Zeisle 
of the Department of Water and Power, whose agency generously sponsored 
the student's trip to Washington.

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